Their results, published in the current issue of Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, potentially opens new therapeutic pathways to fight solid cancers, including metastatic melanoma.

The arrival of small-molecule targeted therapies a decade ago enabled the eradication of half of the metastatic melanomas that carry a genetic signature making them sensitive to these drugs. However, although the malignant cells may seem to have disappeared, small residues of slow growing "dormant" malignant cells undetectable by conventional radiology persist and escape therapy. Despite a majority of melanoma patients showing excellent initial responses, most suffer recurrences.

Researchers from UNIGE and HUG previously showed that the dormant cells underexpress a protein called HuR. By contrast, HuR is highly expressed in rapidly proliferating cells.

The team's recent research uncovered a specific mechanism involved in insufficient HuR expression: The cells' messenger RNA was trapped by other proteins. By using a chemical compound to inhibit two kinases, or enzymes, involved in this mechanism, the team paradoxically overexpressed the HuR protein, making the cells more easily detectable and reducing their resistance to treatment.

The researchers hope to encourage the pharmaceutical industry to optimize the stability and bioavailability of the identified kinase inhibitors, improving the treatment of melanoma and possibly other cancers.

"Melanoma is a model cancer: if we understand it, we can understand many other types of solid cancers," said Dr. Rastine Merat, PhD, researcher in the department of medicine at UNIGE and head of the onco-dermatology unit at HUG.

Novel drug targets cancer cells in mice through lymphatic system, shows therapeutic efficacy
A novel kinase inhibitor, absorbed through the gut’s lymphatic system rather than blood vessels, significantly reduced disease, limited toxicity, and...

Cancer vaccine eliminates tumors, prevents recurrence in mice with metastatic melanoma
Tufts University School of Engineering researchers have come up with a method of targeting cancer in mice using an mRNA-based vaccine that is delivered...

RNA molecules identified as potential ‘common driver’ of cancer progression
Moffitt Cancer Center researchers have challenged the widely held view that protein structure and function are the key drivers of cancer development....

New mutational signatures pinpoint causes of cancer and personalize treatment
New research published on April 11 in Cancer Research has revealed a previously unknown mechanism in a common form of lung cancer that uses epigenetic...