Translational pathology, genomics and the development of systemic therapies for acral melanoma

• Published in: Seminars in cancer biology Vol. 61; pp. 149 - 157
• Main Authors: Chen, Yian Ann, Teer, Jamie K., Eroglu, Zeynep, Wu, Jheng-Yu, Koomen, John M., Karreth, Florian A., Messina, Jane L., Smalley, Keiran S.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2020
• Subjects: Acral melanoma; Biomarkers, Tumor; Disease Management; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genomics - methods; Humans; Melanoma - diagnosis; Melanoma - etiology; Melanoma - metabolism; Melanoma - therapy; Mutation; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases - metabolism; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt - metabolism; PTEN Phosphohydrolase - metabolism; Signal Transduction; Skin Neoplasms - diagnosis; Skin Neoplasms - etiology; Skin Neoplasms - metabolism; Skin Neoplasms - therapy; Systemic therapies; Translational genomics; Translational Medical Research; Translational genomics; Systemic therapies; Acral melanoma
• ISSN: 1044-579X; 1096-3650
• DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.10.017

Acral melanomas arise on the non-hair bearing skin of the palms, soles and in the nail beds. These rare tumors comprise 2–3 % of all melanomas, are not linked to UV-exposure, and represent the most frequent subtype of melanomas in patients of Asian, African and Hispanic origin. Although recent work has revealed candidate molecular events that underlie acral melanoma development, this knowledge is not yet been translated into efficacious local, regional, or systemic therapies. In the current review, we describe the clinical characteristics of acral melanoma and outline the genetic basis of acral melanoma development. Further discussion is given to the current status of systemic therapy for acral melanoma with a focus on ongoing developments in both immunotherapy and targeted therapy for the treatment of advanced disease.