Changes in the expression of a junctional protein are associated with mutational status of BRAF and survival in melanoma

Abstract

Abstract Linked Article: Scatolini et al. Br J Dermatol 2022; 186:117–128. Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that arises when pigment cells in the skin (melanocytes) become malignant (cancerous). During their lifetime melanoma develops in about 1 in 40 people in the UK. Melanoma can spread to other parts of the body (i.e. ‘metastasize’), and metastatic melanoma is one of the deadliest cancers. Several mutations (faults in genetic code) have been found in metastatic melanoma including the BRAF mutation. The development of a type of treatment using inhibitors of mutated BRAF have signalled a positive step in the fight against melanoma, with encouraging response rates. However, due to the development of resistance to such therapies, the search for additional combination treatments and new biomarkers to help predict which patients will respond to different treatments remains a challenge. Building on their previous research, the authors of this study (from Italy, Japan and the UK) focused on gaining a better understanding of melanoma biology, in order to improve treatment options and predict patient outcomes (their prognosis). It was previously known that a gap junction protein called connexin 31·1 (or GJB5) played a role in lung cancer but the authors of this current study have identified a link between metastases (i.e. where the cancer has spread), BRAF mutation and low GJB5 expression in melanoma. This study highlights the importance of monitoring this gap junction protein, and the findings suggest that GJB5 can be used as a prognostic (outcome) marker to predict melanoma progression. In addition, the authors suggest that with future research GJB5 may be a possible new treatment target that could be used in combination with current therapies in melanoma. Linked Article: Scatolini et al. Br J Dermatol 2022; 186:117–128.