Studies of the PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling pathways: : identification of novel downstream targets involved in development and progression of melanoma

Abstract

Malignant melanoma is an aggressive cancer form with few treatment options and poor survival for patients with advanced disease. Increasing knowledge about molecular changes leading to development and progression of melanoma has identified the PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK1/2 pathways as frequently deregulated mediators of the malignant phenotype. Although considerable effort is made to therapeutically target these pathways, desired clinical results are yet to be obtained. For this reason there is still a need for more in depth dissection of these pathways and identification of novel downstream targets, which could hopefully lead to improvement of diagnostic methods and design of new and more efficient therapeutic strategies. With this in mind the aims of the present study were to: 1. Investigate activation status of the PI3K/Akt pathway in melanoma specimens and verify its significance in relation to clinicopathological parameters and patient outcome. 2. Identify and characterize new downstream targets of the PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK1/2 pathways involved in development and progression of melanoma.