MC1R and melanin-based molecular probes for theranostic of melanoma and beyond

Malignant melanoma is accounting for most of skin cancer-associated mortality. The incidence of melanoma increased every year worldwide especially in western countries. Treatment efficiency is highly related to the stage of melanoma. Therefore, accurate staging and restaging play a pivotal role in the management of melanoma patients. Though F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18-FDG) positron-emission tomography (PET) has been widely used in imaging of tumor metastases, novel radioactive probes for specific targeted imaging of both primary and metastasized melanoma are still desired. Melanocortin receptor 1 (MC1R) and melanin are two promising biomarkers specifically for melanoma, and numerous research groups including us have been actively developing a plethora of radioactive probes based on targeting of MC1R or melanin for over two decades. In this review, some of the MC1R-targeted tracers and melanin-associated molecular imaging probes developed in our research and others have been briefly summarized, and it provides a quick glance of melanoma-targeted probe design and may contribute to further developing novel molecular probes for cancer theranostics.

Automated summary

Malignant melanoma is the leading cause of skin cancer-associated mortality, and its incidence is increasing worldwide. Accurate staging and restaging are crucial for the management of melanoma patients, as treatment efficiency is highly dependent on the stage of melanoma. This review provides a brief summary of MC1R-targeted tracers and melanin-associated molecular imaging probes, which may contribute to the development of novel molecular probes for cancer theranostics.