The Role of GSDME in Melanoma Brain Metastases
Abstract
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and men and women serving the U.S. military are at an increased risk due to occupational sun exposure. While melanoma restricted to the skin is often curable, if the disease spreads to other organs–especially the brain–prognosis is poor. Our previous work suggests that targeted inhibitors designed to block melanoma growth require a robust activation of the immune system for best results. In particular, we found that targeted inhibitors that cause melanoma to rupture and spill their contents to the surrounding environment (a process called “pyroptosis”) elicit the strongest immune activation and have the best anti-tumor response. Our current proposal is aimed to study how pyroptosis of melanoma in the brain could be harnessed for better outcomes. This translational project is a collaborative effort; bringing neuroscience, cell death, and basic cancer biology fields together to highlight the importance of pyroptosis in the brain. This work has no potential risks for patients and will directly benefit the men and women of the U.S. military who have a higher incidence rate for melanoma. The current proposal addresses both “Understanding the Tumor Microenvironment” and “Therapeutic Prevention” Focus Areas of the Fiscal Year 2020 Melanoma Research Program Idea Award.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Dec 05, 2021
- Source ID
- W81XWH2110524
Entities
People
- Edward Hartsough
Organizations
- Drexel University
- United States Army