Skin Cancer Treatment Linked to Genetic Switch

The majority of skin cancer-related deaths in melanoma is because of drugs used for treatment can vary in effectiveness depending on the individual.

So, the Salk study published in the journal Cell Reports reveals unique insights about CRTC family of proteins (CRTC1, CRTC2, and CRTC3) to be targeted for novel melanoma treatments. the different behaviours of these proteins or genetic switches are used to decide the specific treatment.

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Skin cancer is an abnormal growth of skin cells. It can develop due to a continuous exposure to sun over the years.

‘New strategy to treat skin cancer is inhibiting proteins in skin cells.’

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"We've been able to correlate the activity of this genetic switch to melanin production and cancer," says Salk study corresponding author Marc Montminy, a professor in the Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology.

The CRTC family of proteins (CRTC1, CRTC2, and CRTC3) are present in pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) give the skin its colour. when these cells mutate and begin to multiply uncontrollably, an abnormal amount of pigment is produced.

Researchers also observed that eliminating CRTC3 protein in mice changed the animal's coat colour and also the absence of protein in less aggressive melanoma cells, suggests that inhibiting the protein will be beneficial for treating the disease.

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Squamous cell cancer is the second most common type of skin cancer. White-skinned individuals exposed to excessive ultraviolet rays of the sun are commonly affected.

They also found two cellular communications (signalling) systems that converge on the CRTC3 protein in melanocytes. Even more further studies can investigate the mechanism of how CTRC3 impacts the balance of melanocyte differentiation for better understanding of its role in skin cancer.

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Source-Eurekalert

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