Evaluation of serum sFRP2 and VEGF levels in patients with malignant melanoma and their role in metastases.
Project no. 29639 · Status: Kapanmış (Yayın bekleniyor) · 2023
Summary
<p>Malignant melanoma (MM) is an aggressive skin tumor originating from melanocytic cells, characterized by invasive growth and early metastatic potential. Cutaneous melanoma can metastasize to any organ, including the skin, lymph nodes, subcutaneous tissues, lungs, liver, bones, brain, and internal organs. Since survival rates in individuals with melanoma depend on the stage of the disease at diagnosis, early detection is critical to improving patient outcomes and saving lives.</p><p><br></p><p>Angiogenesis is considered critical for tumor metastasis. The inhibition of angiogenesis using antibodies like bevacizumab has shown limited effects on the survival of melanoma patients.</p><p><br></p><p>The limited clinical impact of these drugs on overall survival in melanoma patients suggests that VEGF may not be the only factor modulating angiogenesis. A study demonstrated that during aging, VEGF signaling decreases, and sFRP2, a factor that aggressively drives angiogenesis in older patients, replaces VEGF.</p><p><br></p><p>In tumor models, the pro-angiogenic effect of sFRP2 can be prevented by antibodies targeting sFRP2 without causing toxicity. Since tumor angiogenesis is a critical process in tumorigenesis and metastasis formation, specific tumor endothelial markers like sFRP2 hold great promise for anti-cancer therapies.</p><p><br></p><p>This study aims to evaluate serum sFRP2 and VEGF levels in melanoma patients monitored in the Dermato-Oncology unit who have not received radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy. It also seeks to determine whether these levels can be used as biomarkers and whether they play a role in metastases.</p>