PCSK9 May Serve as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Skin Melanoma
Source: HCP Live, May 2024
A new study found proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is associated with an increased cutaneous melanoma risk.
“The main discovery of this study is that PCSK9 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for skin melanoma,” investigators, led by Lusheng Miao, from the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University in China, wrote. “Our findings indicate that existing PCSK9 inhibitors, such as alirocumab and evolocumab, can influence melanoma by targeting LDL-related sites within the gene, thereby supporting the repurposing of these drugs.”
The rapid growth of melanoma, leading to skin cancer, can be attributed to dysregulated lipid metabolism. Although treatment options exist, the effectiveness of lipid-lowering drugs to treat cutaneous melanoma still needs to be determined due to conflicting research.