Report Highlights Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Melanoma Metastases
Source: AJMC, March 2025
The study could open the door to potential novel therapeutic targets.
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play an important role in metastatic melanoma, and an enhanced understanding of that role could lead to important new therapeutic pathways, according to a new report. The findings were published in the journal Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research.
Metastasis is a critical issue in the study of melanoma, since widespread metastasis is the leading cause of death among people with melanoma, noted corresponding author Peter Angel, PhD, of the German Cancer Research Center, and colleagues. Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer, making up nearly two-thirds of skin cancer deaths despite representing less than 5% of all skin cancers.2 In addition, Angel and colleagues noted that the global burden of melanoma continues to increase. The AIM at Melanoma Foundation reports that the number of new invasive melanomas diagnosed in the United States increased by nearly 50% from 2009 to 2023.