Breakthrough in understanding melanoma drug resistance
Source: Drug Discovery & Development , October 2024
Researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) have announced a new discovery in the fight against melanoma. The study, published in the journal Molecular Cancer, reveals a new mechanism behind drug resistance in melanoma and proposes potential strategies to overcome it.
Led by Dr. Tackhoon Kim, the research team identified that melanomas resistant to BRAF inhibitors, a common targeted therapy, show increased polyamine biosynthesis. This increase is a result ofthe activation of the oncogene c-Myc, ultimately leading to enhanced mitochondrial activity and drug resistance.
“We have identified the key mechanism behind drug resistance in melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer,” stated Dr. Kim in a press release. The study found that the AMD1 gene, crucial for polyamine biosynthesis, plays a pivotal role in developing drug resistance.