Targeting cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 as a therapeutic approach for mucosal melanoma

Mucosal melanoma is a rare but devastating subtype of melanoma which typically has a worse prognosis than other melanoma subtypes. Large-scale next-generation sequencing studies, including our recent research, have also proved that the molecular landscape and potential oncogenic drivers of mucosal melanoma remain distinct from that of cutaneous melanoma. Recently, a number of selective cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4)/6 inhibitors have been approved for clinical application in breast cancer or entered phase Ill clinical trial in other solid tumors. Additionally, we have revealed that the dysregulation of cell cycle progression, caused by CDK4 amplification, is a key genetic feature in half of mucosal melanoma and targeting of CDK4 in selected mucosal melanoma patients is a potentially promising direction for precision cancer treatment by using molecular-characterized mucosal melanoma patient-derived-xenograft models. This review summarizes the current literature regarding CDK4/6 dysregulation in mucosal melanoma, preclinical and clinical studies of CDK4/ inhibitors and potential combinational strategies in treating mucosal melanoma. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

Automated summary

Mucosal melanoma is a rare and devastating subtype of melanoma with typically poor prognosis. Dysregulation of cell cycle progression caused by CDK4 amplification is a key genetic feature in half of mucosal melanoma patients. Targeting CDK4 in selected mucosal melanoma patients may be a promising direction for precision cancer treatment.