MicroRNA-222 Regulates Melanoma Plasticity

• Main Authors: Maria Chiara Lionetti, Filippo Cola, Oleksandr Chepizhko, Maria Rita Fumagalli, Francesc Font-Clos, Roberto Ravasio, Saverio Minucci, Paola Canzano, Marina Camera, Guido Tiana, Stefano Zapperi, Caterina A. M. La Porta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-08-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical Medicine
• Subjects: melanoma; tumor plasticity; hsa-mir-222; reaction diffusion; kinetic equations; cancer stem cells
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/9/8/2573

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive and highly resistant tumors. Cell plasticity in melanoma is one of the main culprits behind its metastatic capabilities. The detailed molecular mechanisms controlling melanoma plasticity are still not completely understood. Here we combine mathematical models of phenotypic switching with experiments on IgR39 human melanoma cells to identify possible key targets to impair phenotypic switching. Our mathematical model shows that a cancer stem cell subpopulation within the tumor prevents phenotypic switching of the other cancer cells. Experiments reveal that hsa-mir-222 is a key factor enabling this process. Our results shed new light on melanoma plasticity, providing a potential target and guidance for therapeutic studies.