Contribution of epigenetics mechanisms during human acral lentiginous melanoma development

• Grant number: 15/13412-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2015
• End date: September 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Fabiana Henriques Machado de Melo
• Grantee: Lívia Tomazin Maebuti
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP). Fundação Arnaldo Vieira de Carvalho. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The number of cases of melanoma has been increasing worldwide. Due to the high possibility of metastasis, melanoma skin cancer is the most aggressive type of cancer affecting the skin system. The acral lentiginous melanoma, in turn, is the more aggressive subtype. Although less frequent, representing about 2% to 8% of all subtypes, its incidence has increased in recent years. The difficulties in diagnosing and monitoring this disease is due their epidemiological, clinical and pathogenic differences from other types of melanoma. Reports from literature suggest certain genetic changes in BRAF, RAF, KIT in acral lentiginous melanoma when compared to benign nevus. However, these are not conclusive. Currently, epigenetic mechanisms have been associated with superficial spreading melanoma development. The most studied changes are DNA methylation and post-translational modifications of histones by acetylation and methylation. The inflammation is related to microenvironment alterations, contributing to epigenetic changes and hence to melanoma development. Some studies show the involvement of inflammation in the pathogenesis of acral lentiginous melanoma, but there are no data showing the contribution of epigenetic modifications in this neoplasia genesis.