Abstract
Background: Malignant melanoma is one of the most aggressive malignant tumors, with unpredictable evolution. Despite numerous therapeutic options, like chemotherapy, BRAF inhibitors and immunotherapy, advanced melanoma prognosis remains severe. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been successfully used as the first line or palliative therapy for the treatment of lung, esophageal, bladder, non melanoma skin and head and neck cancers. However, classical PDT has shown some drawbacks that limit its clinical application in melanoma.
Objective: The most important challenge is to overcome melanoma resistance, due to melanosomal trapping, presence of melanin, enhanced oxidative stress defense, defects in the apoptotic pathways, immune evasion, neoangiogenesis stimulation.
Method: In this review we considered: (1) main signaling molecular pathways deregulated in melanoma as potential targets for personalized therapy, including PDT, (2) results of the clinical studies regarding PDT of melanoma, especially advanced metastatic stage, (3) progresses made in the design of anti-melanoma photosensitizers (4) inhibition of tumor neoangiogenesis, as well as (5) advantages of the derived therapies like photothermal therapy, sonodynamic therapy.
Results: PDT represents a promising alternative palliative treatment for advanced melanoma patients, mainly due to its minimal invasive character and low side effects. Efficient melanoma PDT requires: (1) improved, tumor targeted, NIR absorbing photosensitizers, capable of inducing high amounts of different ROS inside tumor and vasculature cells, possibly allowing a theranostic approach; (2) an efficient adjuvant immune therapy.
Conclusion: Combination of PDT with immune stimulation might be the key to overcome the melanoma resistance and to obtain better, sustainable clinical results.
Keywords: Photodynamic therapy, melanoma, photosensitizer, neoangiogenesis, immune therapy, oxidative stress, signaling pathway.
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title:Photodynamic Therapy in Melanoma - Where do we Stand?
Volume: 25 Issue: 40
Author(s): Ioana Baldea*, Lorin Giurgiu, Ioana Diana Teacoe, Diana Elena Olteanu*, Florin Catalin Olteanu, Simona Clichici and Gabriela Adriana Filip
Affiliation:
- Physiology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iuliu Hatieganu, Cluj-Napoca,Romania
- Physiology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iuliu Hatieganu, Cluj-Napoca,Romania
Keywords: Photodynamic therapy, melanoma, photosensitizer, neoangiogenesis, immune therapy, oxidative stress, signaling pathway.
Abstract: Background: Malignant melanoma is one of the most aggressive malignant tumors, with unpredictable evolution. Despite numerous therapeutic options, like chemotherapy, BRAF inhibitors and immunotherapy, advanced melanoma prognosis remains severe. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been successfully used as the first line or palliative therapy for the treatment of lung, esophageal, bladder, non melanoma skin and head and neck cancers. However, classical PDT has shown some drawbacks that limit its clinical application in melanoma.
Objective: The most important challenge is to overcome melanoma resistance, due to melanosomal trapping, presence of melanin, enhanced oxidative stress defense, defects in the apoptotic pathways, immune evasion, neoangiogenesis stimulation.
Method: In this review we considered: (1) main signaling molecular pathways deregulated in melanoma as potential targets for personalized therapy, including PDT, (2) results of the clinical studies regarding PDT of melanoma, especially advanced metastatic stage, (3) progresses made in the design of anti-melanoma photosensitizers (4) inhibition of tumor neoangiogenesis, as well as (5) advantages of the derived therapies like photothermal therapy, sonodynamic therapy.
Results: PDT represents a promising alternative palliative treatment for advanced melanoma patients, mainly due to its minimal invasive character and low side effects. Efficient melanoma PDT requires: (1) improved, tumor targeted, NIR absorbing photosensitizers, capable of inducing high amounts of different ROS inside tumor and vasculature cells, possibly allowing a theranostic approach; (2) an efficient adjuvant immune therapy.
Conclusion: Combination of PDT with immune stimulation might be the key to overcome the melanoma resistance and to obtain better, sustainable clinical results.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Baldea Ioana*, Giurgiu Lorin, Teacoe Diana Ioana , Olteanu Elena Diana*, Olteanu Catalin Florin, Clichici Simona and Filip Adriana Gabriela, Photodynamic Therapy in Melanoma - Where do we Stand?, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2018; 25 (40) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867325666171226115626
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0929867325666171226115626 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances in Medicinal Chemistry: From Cancer to Chronic Diseases.
The broad spectrum of the issue will provide a comprehensive overview of emerging trends, novel therapeutic interventions, and translational insights that impact modern medicine. The primary focus will be diseases of global concern, including cancer, chronic pain, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions, providing a broad overview of the advancements in ...read more
Approaches to the treatment of chronic inflammation
Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of numerous diseases, significantly impacting global health. Although chronic inflammation is a hot topic, not much has been written about approaches to its treatment. This thematic issue aims to showcase the latest advancements in chronic inflammation treatment and foster discussion on future directions in this ...read more
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Infectious Inflammatory Diseases: Focus on Clinical Implications
The Special Issue covers the results of the studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms of non-infectious inflammatory diseases, in particular, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other age-related disorders such as type II diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. Review and research articles as well as methodology papers that summarize ...read more
Chalcogen-modified nucleic acid analogues
Chalcogen-modified nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides have been of great interest to scientific research for many years. The replacement of oxygen in the nucleobase, sugar or phosphate backbone by chalcogen atoms (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) gives these biomolecules unique properties resulting from their altered physical and chemical properties. The continuing interest in ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Immunobiology of Herpes Simplex Virus and Cytomegalovirus Infections of the Fetus and Newborn
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Anti-Angiogenic Therapy: Strategies to Develop Potent VEGFR-2 Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Future Prospect
Current Medicinal Chemistry Self-Reported Physical Complaints are Reduced Upon Regular Use of an In-Home Water Filter System (AcalaQuell®): A Prospective, Controlled, Documentation Study
The Natural Products Journal Estrogen Receptor-Positive and Estrogen Receptor-Negative Human Breast Cancer Cells: Regulation of Expression of Cancer-Related Genes by Estradiol and Tamoxifen
Current Signal Transduction Therapy COX-2 and Colorectal Cancer
Current Pharmaceutical Design TRPM6 and TRPM7: A Mul-TRP-PLIK-Cation of Channel Functions
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Meet Our Co-Editor Prof. Dr. Xiaofeng Charles Zhou
MicroRNA Chemoradiation for Oropharyngeal Carcinoma for Organ Preservation
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews Mechanisms of Drug Resistance in Cancer Chemotherapy: Coordinated Role and Regulation of Efflux Transporters and Metabolizing Enzymes
Current Pharmaceutical Design Chemotherapy and Molecular Therapy in Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews The Role of the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP Signaling Pathway in Tumor Progression During Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
Current Molecular Medicine MicroRNAs in Lung Cancer and Lung Cancer Bone Metastases: Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis and Targets for Treatment
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery The Cross-over of Anticancer Agents with Osteoclast Activities
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews The Coordinated Role of CYP450 Enzymes and P-gp in Determining Cancer Resistance to Chemotherapy
Current Drug Metabolism Airway Fibroblast Secretory Products Enhance Cell Migration
Current Proteomics Tumor Escape from Immune Response: Mechanisms and Targets of Activity
Current Drug Targets Olfactory Dysfunction and Cognitive Impairment in Age-Related Neurodegeneration: Prevalence Related to Patient Selection, Diagnostic Criteria and Therapeutic Treatment of Aged Clients Receiving Clinical Neurology and Community-Based Care
Current Clinical Pharmacology Targeting STEAP1 Protein in Human Cancer: Current Trends and Future Challenges
Current Cancer Drug Targets Stable Synthetic Bacteriochlorins: Potent Light-Activated Anti-Cancer Drugs
Current Organic Chemistry Metal–Organic Framework (MOF)-based Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications
Current Medicinal Chemistry