title: Roads to melanoma: Key pathways and emerging players in melanoma progression and oncogenic signaling.
abstract: Melanoma has markedly increased worldwide during the past several decades in the Caucasian population and is responsible for 80% of skin cancer deaths. Considering that metastatic melanoma is almost completely resistant to most current therapies and is linked with a poor patient prognosis, it is crucial to further investigate potential molecular targets. Major cell-autonomous drivers in the pathogenesis of this disease include the classical MAPK (i.e., RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK), WNT, and PI3K signaling pathways. These pathways play a major role in defining the progression of melanoma, and some have been the subject of recent pharmacological strategies to treat this belligerent disease. This review describes the latest advances in the understanding of melanoma progression and the major molecular pathways involved. In addition, we discuss the roles of emerging molecular players that are involved in melanoma pathogenesis, including the functional role of the melanoma tumor antigen, p97/MFI2 (melanotransferrin).
authors: Molecular Pharmacology and, Pathology Program, Department of Pathology and, Bosch Institute,University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.
authors: Jasmina
authors: J
authors: Paluncic
authors: Molecular Pharmacology and, Pathology Program, Department of Pathology and, Bosch Institute,University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.
authors: Zaklina
authors: Z
authors: Kovacevic
authors: Molecular Pharmacology and, Pathology Program, Department of Pathology and, Bosch Institute,University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.
authors: Patric J
authors: PJ
authors: Jansson
authors: Molecular Pharmacology and, Pathology Program, Department of Pathology and, Bosch Institute,University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.
authors: Danuta
authors: D
authors: Kalinowski
authors: Molecular Pharmacology and, Pathology Program, Department of Pathology and, Bosch Institute,University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.
authors: Angelika M
authors: AM
authors: Merlot
authors: Molecular Pharmacology and, Pathology Program, Department of Pathology and, Bosch Institute,University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.
authors: Michael L-H
authors: ML
authors: Huang
authors: Molecular Pharmacology and, Pathology Program, Department of Pathology and, Bosch Institute,University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.
authors: Hiu Chuen
authors: HC
authors: Lok
authors: Molecular Pharmacology and, Pathology Program, Department of Pathology and, Bosch Institute,University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.
authors: Sumit
authors: S
authors: Sahni
authors: Molecular Pharmacology and, Pathology Program, Department of Pathology and, Bosch Institute,University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia. Electronic address: darius.lane@sydney.edu.au.
authors: Darius J R
authors: DJ
authors: Lane
authors: Molecular Pharmacology and, Pathology Program, Department of Pathology and, Bosch Institute,University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia. Electronic address: d.richardson@med.usyd.edu.au.
authors: Des R
authors: DR
authors: Richardson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018450:Disease Progression; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D009857:Oncogenes / Q000502:physiology*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000502:physiology; D048490:raf Kinases / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D048490:raf Kinases
keywords: BRAF; EMT; MAPK; Melanoma; PI3K; WNT