Role of stem cells in melanoma progression: hopes for a better treatment

Although multiple genetic lesions and dysregulated signaling pathways have been identified in melanoma as potential pharmacological targets, currently no treatments exist that can effectively combat disseminated melanoma, suggesting that perhaps the proper targets are not being recognized. Recently, a small subpopulation of stem-like cells has been isolated from melanomas that posess many attributes of cancer stem cells, exhibiting unlimited self-renewal capacity, differentiation into various cell types and induction of tumor formation with small cell numbers. Thus, considerable interest lies in determining whether melanomas are derived from transformed melanocyte stem or progenitor cells, or from the transformation of more mature melanocytes that have acquired stem cell properties. Questions have also arisen as to whether these melanoma cancer stem cells should be specifically targeted for therapy. It is probable that, the development of new strategies is required that target both the main population of ...