- New research has identified a protein that helps tumors evade immune response, fueling the development of melanoma.
- Researchers say targeted therapies aimed specifically at this protein should help increase the efficacy of immunotherapy.
- Melanoma is one of the most common cancers and is frequently caused by exposure to UV light, although genetic factors play a role as well
- Experts recommend avoiding direct exposure to sunlight and tanning beds as well as keeping an eye on moles that look unusual.
New research into the development of melanoma has shed new light on how this skin cancer grows while creating potential new avenues for its treatment.
In a study published in the journal Science Advances, researchers demonstrated how a protein known as NR2F6 helps fuel the development of tumors by helping them evade the immune system.
The researchers found that removing the protein in mice ensured a more effective response to immunotherapy.
“This tells us that NR2F6 helps melanoma evade the immune system, and without it, the immune system can more readily suppress tumor growth,” Dr. Hyungsoo Kim, a study first author and a research assistant professor at Sanford Burnham Prebys, a research institute in La Jolla, California, explained in a statement.
Because the protein acts similarly whether it is in a tumor or in its surrounding tissues, it is believed that treatments that block its activity could be doubly effective.
The researchers are now working to identify new drugs that can specifically target NR2F6.
Dr. Ahmad Chaudhry, a dermatologist based in the United Kingdom, told Medical News Today that melanoma develops when the DNA in skin cells gets damaged.
“This is often due to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds,” Chaudhry said. “This damage causes the melanocytes (melanin-producing cells) to grow uncontrollably and form a mass of cancerous cells. Sometimes, melanoma can also develop in the eyes or internal organs, but this is less…
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