The Roles of PTEN in Melanoma Suppression

Since its discovery more than a quarter century ago, PTEN has emerged as one of the most potent tumor suppressors and its loss of function is common to numerous cancer types including glioblastoma, prostate cancer, small cell lung cancer, and melanoma. PTEN is a lipid and protein phosphatase that contributes to various cellular processes, primarily by regulating key signaling pathways. Extensive research over the past two decades has uncovered many aspects of PTEN regulation and function and highlighted the role of PTEN in tumor suppression. PTEN loss-of-function is associated with the progression of a substantial portion of melanoma cases, and while its role in melanoma suppression is often ascribed to its inhibition of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, recent studies may hint at a more complex role for PTEN in melanoma. In this review, we provide an overview of how PTEN suppresses melanomagenesis.