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Current Medicinal Chemistry

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ISSN (Print): 0929-8673
ISSN (Online): 1875-533X

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Perspective

Insights into Melanoma Fibroblast Populations and Therapeutic Strategy Perspectives: Friends or Foes?

Author(s): Angelica Avagliano* and Alessandro Arcucci

Volume 29, Issue 40, 2022

Published on: 15 August, 2022

Page: [6159 - 6168] Pages: 10

DOI: 10.2174/0929867329666220620124138

Abstract

Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is an aggressive and highly metastatic solid tumor associated with drug resistance. Before 2011, despite therapies based on cytokines or molecules inhibiting DNA synthesis, metastatic melanoma led to patient death within 18 months from diagnosis. However, recent studies on bidirectional interactions between melanoma cells and tumor microenvironment (TME) have had a significant impact on the development of new therapeutic strategies represented by targeted therapy and immunotherapy. In particular, the heterogeneous stromal fibroblast populations, including fibroblasts, fibroblast aggregates, myofibroblasts, and melanoma associated fibroblasts (MAFs), represent the most abundant cell population of TME and regulate cancer growth differently. Therefore, in this perspective article, we have highlighted the different impacts of fibroblast populations on cancer development and growth. In particular, we focused on the role of MAFs in sustaining melanoma cell survival, proliferation, migration and invasion, drug resistance, and immunoregulation. The important role of constitutively activated MAFs in promoting CM growth and immunoediting makes this cell type a promising target for cancer therapy.

Keywords: Cutaneous melanoma, melanoma microenvironment, fibroblast populations, normal fibroblasts, melanoma associated fibroblasts, therapeutic perspectives.

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