miRNAs as potential game-changers in melanoma: A comprehensive review

Melanoma is the sixth most frequent malignancy. It represents 1.7% of all cancer cases worldwide. Many risk factors are associated with melanoma including ultraviolet radiation skin phenotype, Pigmented Nevi, Pesticides, and genetic and epigenetic factors. Of the main epigenetic factors affecting melanoma are microribonucleic acids (miRNAs). They are short nucleic acid chains that have the potential to prevent the expression of a number of target genes. They could target a number of genes related to melanoma initiation, stemness, angiogenesis, apoptosis, proliferation, and potential resistance to treatment. Additionally, they can control several melanoma signaling pathways, including P53, WNT/-catenin, JAK/STAT, PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis, TGF- 8, and EGFR. MiRNAs also play a role in the resistance of melanoma to essential treatment regimens. The stability and abundance of miRNAs might be important factors enhancing the use of miRNAs as markers of prognosis, diagnosis, stemness, survival, and metastasis in melanoma patients.

Automated summary

Melanoma, accounting for 1.7% of all cancer cases worldwide, is the sixth most frequent malignancy. Various risk factors, such as ultraviolet radiation, skin phenotype, pigmented nevi, pesticides, genetics, and epigenetics, are associated with melanoma. Microribonucleic acids (miRNAs), as one of the main epigenetic factors affecting melanoma, can prevent the expression of target genes and regulate multiple signaling pathways related to melanoma initiation, stemness, angiogenesis, apoptosis, proliferation, and treatment resistance. The abundance and stability of miRNAs may serve as important factors for their potential use as markers for prognosis, diagnosis, stemness, survival, and metastasis in melanoma patients.