Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, develops from pigment-producing cells called melanocytes.
One major cause of melanoma is too much ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, whether from the sun or artificial sources.
UV light can cause genetic changes that lead to tumors. Now, a team of researchers from LMU, led by Professor Christian Grimm and Dr. Karin Bartel, has made a breakthrough in understanding how two proteins work together to fuel melanoma growth and spread.
The researchers focused on a protein called TPC2 and an enzyme called Rab7a.
These two proteins are part of the cell’s “recycling system,” known as the endolysosomal system.
This system helps break down and transport important molecules within the cell. When TPC2 and Rab7a interact, they create a perfect storm that allows melanoma cells to grow faster and spread more easily.
Interestingly, some genetic variations in TPC2 make it more active and are linked to traits like fair skin, blond hair, and albinism.
People with these traits are at higher risk of melanoma because their skin provides less natural protection from UV damage. On the other hand, when TPC2 is missing or inactive, the risk of developing melanoma is lower.
Using advanced tools, such as microscopes to measure calcium activity in cells and techniques to study proteins, the team showed that Rab7a increases TPC2’s activity.
This boost causes a decrease in a specific protein that usually stabilizes a critical transcription factor. This transcription factor plays a big role in helping melanoma cells survive and multiply.
The researchers also tested their findings in mice with melanoma. When Rab7a or TPC2 was removed from the melanoma cells, the tumors became much smaller, and the cancer spread less.
This discovery highlights the potential for new treatments targeting the Rab7a-TPC2 interaction.
“These findings are exciting because they open the door to therapies that specifically block the signals promoting melanoma growth and spread,” says Professor Grimm.
This study helps scientists understand melanoma better and brings hope for new treatments to fight this aggressive form of skin cancer.
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