Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 31, 2026

Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model
12:37

Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model

Published on: September 7, 2013

18.9K

Phytochemicals with epigenetic properties and their role in melanoma therapy

Ioannis Anestopoulos1, Sotiris Kyriakou1, Maria V Deligiorgi2

  • 1Department of Cancer Genetics, Therapeutics & Ultrastructural Pathology, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus.

International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology
|March 29, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Phytochemicals show promise in combating malignant melanoma by targeting its epigenetic landscape. This review explores how these natural compounds can reverse epigenetic alterations and overcome drug resistance in skin cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Epigenetics
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Malignant melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer with high mortality.
  • Epigenetic alterations (DNA methylation, histone modifications, ncRNAs) drive melanoma.
  • Acquired drug resistance limits current therapeutic efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review malignant melanoma characteristics and current treatments.
  • To detail the epigenetic basis of melanoma.
  • To explore phytochemicals as epigenetic modulators for melanoma.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of malignant melanoma pathophysiology.
  • Analysis of epigenetic mechanisms in melanoma.
  • Investigation of phytochemicals' role in epigenetic regulation.

Main Results:

  • Phytochemicals exhibit pleiotropic effects and can act as epigenetic regulators.
  • These compounds can restore normal cellular phenotypes in cancer models.
  • Phytochemicals offer a potential strategy to target the melanoma epigenome.

Conclusions:

  • Phytochemicals represent a promising avenue for alternative melanoma therapy.
  • Targeting the epigenome with phytochemicals may overcome drug resistance.
  • Further research into phytochemicals could lead to novel anti-melanoma treatments.
Keywords:
AcetylationEpigeneticsHistone modificationsLncRNAsMelanomaMethylationMiRNAPhytochemicalsTherapeutics

More Related Videos

Quantification of Hypopigmentation Activity In Vitro06:08

Quantification of Hypopigmentation Activity In Vitro

Published on: March 6, 2019

12.1K
A Robust Discovery Platform for the Identification of Novel Mediators of Melanoma Metastasis07:41

A Robust Discovery Platform for the Identification of Novel Mediators of Melanoma Metastasis

Published on: March 8, 2022

3.0K

Related Concept Videos

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
8.4K
Epigenetic Regulation01:37

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
4.2K
Epigenetic Regulation01:46

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
34.3K
Pigmentation01:19

Pigmentation

The color of the skin is influenced by a number of pigments, including melanin, carotene, and hemoglobin. Recall that melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes, which are found scattered throughout the stratum basale of the epidermis. The melanin is transferred to the keratinocytes via melanosomes.
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
5.0K
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
5.4K
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase01:11

Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase

Genetic polymorphisms in drug targets have emerged as critical determinants of interindividual variability in drug response and toxicity. Pharmacogenomic investigations increasingly focus on identifying these variations to personalize and optimize therapeutic interventions. A drug target may be a receptor, enzyme, or signaling protein involved in pharmacologic responses or disease-related pathways. While early pharmacogenetic studies focused primarily on drug metabolism, current research...
68