Journal
HUMAN GENE THERAPY
Volume 22, Issue 3, Pages 325-335Publisher
MARY ANN LIEBERT, INC
DOI: 10.1089/hum.2010.090
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Funding
- National Science Council, Taiwan [NSC 98-2320-B-110-004-MY3]
- Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan [VGHKS-98-007, VGHKS-99-036]
- National Sun Yat-Sen University-Kaohsiung Medical University Joint Research Center
- Asia-Pacific Ocean Research Center of National Sun Yat-Sen University
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Malignant melanoma is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality worldwide, underlining the need for effective novel therapies. In this study, the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of systemic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) therapy were evaluated in mice bearing established melanoma. Injection of adenovirus encoding POMC (Ad-POMC) led to hepatic POMC overexpression and elevated adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) levels in the circulation. Systemic POMC therapy significantly attenuated the growth of established melanoma and prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice. Histological analysis revealed that systemic POMC therapy induced melanogenic differentiation while reducing melanoma growth. In addition, POMC therapy also elicited a significant reduction in the neovascular network of melanoma. Last, we demonstrated that POMC-derived peptides, including ACTH, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), and beta-MSH, are involved in POMC-mediated melanogenic differentiation and angiogenesis inhibition. In summary, systemic POMC therapy suppresses melanoma growth via induction of melanogenic differentiation and angiogenesis blockade, thereby demonstrating its potential as a novel treatment modality for melanoma.
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