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A 3D Organotypic Melanoma Spheroid Skin Model
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Autophagy in Melanoma: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives

Dominika Stencel1, Dorota Wrześniok1

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 4 Jagiellońska Str., 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|August 13, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Melanoma, a dangerous skin cancer, involves autophagy, a cellular process. Research explores using autophagy modulators to enhance melanoma treatment effectiveness.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Melanoma is a significant public health concern due to its high metastatic potential and treatment resistance.
  • Autophagy is a cellular degradation process crucial for maintaining homeostasis and cell survival.
  • Autophagy exists in three main forms: macroautophagy, microautophagy, and chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the multifaceted role of autophagy in melanoma development and progression.
  • To investigate how autophagy influences cancer characteristics such as inflammation, apoptosis crosstalk, and therapeutic resistance.
  • To evaluate the potential of modulating autophagy as a therapeutic strategy for melanoma.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of current research on autophagy and melanoma.
  • Analysis of studies investigating the dual role of autophagy (tumor-promoting vs. tumor-suppressive) in different cancer contexts.
  • Examination of preclinical and clinical data on autophagy inhibitors and inducers in melanoma models.

Main Results:

  • Autophagy's role in oncogenesis is complex and context-dependent, varying with cancer type and stage.
  • Autophagy can act as either a tumor promoter or a tumor suppressor in melanoma.
  • Factors like inflammation and crosstalk with apoptosis significantly influence autophagy's function in cancer.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting autophagy presents a promising avenue for improving melanoma treatment efficacy.
  • Both autophagy inhibitors and inducers are being explored as potential therapeutic agents.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate and harness the therapeutic potential of autophagy modulation in melanoma.
Keywords:
autophagycancermelanomaoncogenesis

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