Moffitt Study Uncovers a Way To Boost Treatment for Aggressive Melanoma
Source: Moffitt Cancer Center, April 2025
A new study from researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center shows that blocking a chemical process called nitrosylation could make one of the most aggressive forms of melanoma more treatable. Results of the study were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting and published in Cancer Reseach.
Researchers focused on NRAS-mutant melanoma, a subtype that makes up about 25% of all melanoma cases. These cancers are difficult to treat and often resist current therapies, including immunotherapy and targeted drugs.
Nitrosylation is a chemical process where nitric oxide can modify proteins by sticking to them. This changes how the protein behaves. It can turn the protein on or off, change its location or change how it interacts with other proteins. Nitrosylation helps cancer cells survive by activating pathways that promote cell growth and resist drugs.