A group of researchers from the University of Algarve, led by Wolfgang Link, has identified a biomarker for the diagnosis of melanoma, which also predicts the response to chemotherapeutic treatments.
The same group, which belongs to UAlg's Center for Research in Biomedicine (CBMR), was recently distinguished by Associação Loop, in the context of its research on the role of the TRIB2 protein in the formation and progression of breast cancer and in resistance to therapy.
As far as melanoma is concerned, it is known to be the deadliest form of skin cancer. Early diagnosed primary melanomas can often be successfully treated with surgical excision.
However, advanced-stage melanomas are difficult to treat and most patients develop lethal metastatic disease.
Melanoma originates from pigment-producing cells, melanocytes. As the presence of the pigment melanin can be directly observed, melanoma is one of the easiest cancers to diagnose.
The problem is that melanoma cells can spread throughout the body in early stages of the disease and, in many cases, form therapeutic-resistant metastases. The incidence of metastatic melanoma has increased over the past three decades, with a mortality rate that continues to rise faster than almost all other types of cancer.
For all that, there is an urgent need to come up with better molecular markers to more accurately diagnose disease stage, determine its risk of progression, and accurately predict response to therapy.
For example, explains Wolfgang Link, "it would be very useful to have a biomarker to distinguish between patients who can be successfully treated with surgery alone and those who need more aggressive treatment with radiation or chemotherapy."
In the investigator's opinion, "this would not only prevent many patients from needlessly suffering from the side effects of these treatments, but it would also save the National Health System money."
It is in this sense that this research group has been working, having recently identified a protein that may be able to predict the risk of melanoma progression more accurately than currently known/established melanoma biomarkers.
This study has just been published in the prestigious journal “Carcinogenesis” and shows that the amount of TRIB2 protein is significantly increased in benign nevi and melanoma, and its expression (quantity) is higher in samples from patients with metastatic melanoma.
The research group compared the TRIB2 protein with other known biomarkers for metastatic melanoma and showed that its quantity is indicative of the presence of melanoma, the stage of the disease and its response to therapy.
Richard Hill, the first author of the article, states that this work lays the groundwork for future studies to improve the management of aggressive disease that resists all current standard treatments.
Award-winning researchers for breast cancer research
It was the same protein, TRIB2, which is also the object of this group's study in the formation and progression of breast cancer, and also in resistance to therapy, which led Wolfgang Link to be distinguished by Associação Associação, with the pecuniary value of 25 thousand euros, so that, through this research, the treatment can be more personalized, through new ways of approaching metastatic breast cancer.
Regarding the amount of the prize, the researcher considers that it is always good to help maintain the research, but considers that it is not enough to maintain the patterns that are at the origin of a complex investigation.
“It is very important that we are recognized for our work, so that we can maintain the high research standards of the UAlg and the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine. In these times of crisis, this award at least allows us to continue to investigate, and that is the most important thing!”
Wolfgang Link highlights the fact that, in a short period of time, three UAlg researchers have been distinguished for research developed around cancer, which, in his opinion, “reflects the high quality of the research carried out at this University”.
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