title: The role of stress and beta-adrenergic system in melanoma: current knowledge and possible therapeutic options.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present review was to discuss recent findings on the role of beta-adrenergic system in melanoma, in order to provide information on the biological responses elicited by its activation and its potential application for melanoma treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was performed, and evidences regarding the involvement of stress and beta-adrenergic system in cancer and melanoma were found and discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our search pointed out that beta-adrenergic system is a key regulator of important biological processes involved in the onset and progression of some solid tumors. In the last decade, functional beta-adrenoceptors have been also identified on melanoma cells, as well as on their microenvironment cells. Similarly to other common cancers too, the activation of such adrenoceptors by catecholamines, usually released under stress conditions, has been found to trigger pro-tumorigenic pathways contributing to cell proliferation and motility, immune system regulation, apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, invasion and neoangiogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The biological evidences we found clarify and sustain the clinical evidences reporting the involvement of chronic stress in melanoma onset and progression. In such scenario, it is conceivable that a therapeutic approach targeting beta-adrenergic system could constitute a novel and promising strategy for melanoma treatment.
authors.affiliation: Section of Dermatology, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, Ospedale Piero Palagi, Viale Michelangelo 41, 50125, Florence, Italy. roberta.colucci21@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colucci
authors.affiliation: Section of Dermatology, Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, Ospedale Piero Palagi, Viale Michelangelo 41, 50125, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moretti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta
keywords: Beta-adrenergic receptors; Beta-adrenergic system; Beta-blockers; Catecholamines; Melanoma; Stress