Key melanoma protein identified

More than 14,000 new cases of melanoma are estimated to have occurred in Australia and New Zealand in 2018.

Melanoma is the most common cancer in young Australians (aged 15–39), and metastasis is the primary cause of death. While there have been recent advances in targeted and immune-based treatments, advanced stage melanoma remains a clinical challenge with a particularly poor prognosis.

Now, scientists from the Centenary Institute, in collaboration with 11 other Australian research institutions, have identified protein RAB27A as a key driver of melanoma metastasis. This occurs via the secretion of pro-invasive exosomes — tiny bubble-like structures which are expelled from cells.

During the study, the researchers discovered that silencing the expression of RAB27A reduced a certain population of exosomes delivering pro-invasion messages, which led to reduced metastasis.

Dajiang Guo, lead author and PhD researcher in Centenary’s Immune Imaging Program, said the discovery provides a new way through which researchers can better target and treat melanoma.

“From our findings, we propose RAB27A is a novel prognostic factor, which means it could provide clinicians with a new way to determine a melanoma patient’s future health outcome,” Guo said.

“We also believe it could provide a brand new therapeutic target for the prevention of metastasis, which would improve the efficacy of future treatments. This is significant because metastasis is the main cause of death in melanoma patients.”

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Damian Gretka