Pleiotropy refers to a single genetic locus having multiple phenotypic effects. Evidence of pleiotropy can suggest shared molecular mechanisms or disease susceptibility pathways between phenotypes. Several regions of the genome demonstrate pleiotropic effects with multiple cancers, but the extent of these pleiotropic relationships has not been fully characterized.
MRV Research
Melanoma-Activating Beta-Catenin Signalling Prevents Immune System Activation
In a new study entitled “Melanoma-intrinsic beta-catenin signaling prevents anti-tumor immunity,” a research team at University of Chicago unraveled the mechanism by which melanoma tumors are able to resist to the most effective immunotherapies currently available. These findings identify new candidate targets for developing immune tools to overcome tumor immune evasion pathways. The study was published in the May 11, 2015 issue of Nature.
The ongoing battle with melanoma
Malignant melanoma – a type skin cancer – is almost always curable when it’s found in its very early stages. Unfortunately, it’s far more aggressive than other skin cancers and often becomes metastatic – spreading to other parts of the body. When it reaches this stage, it becomes almost untreatable, and is nearly always fatal.
DNA Repair Mapped by UNC Researchers
Groundbreaking work in mapping damaged DNA repair in the human genome reached a milestone at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. The new study may have implications in helping treat patients with melanoma whose cells have become cancerous due to UV radiation damage and have overcome common chemotherapy agents through DNA repair.