Abstract

Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, poses a significant global health challenge due to its high metastatic potential and resistance to conventional therapies. Vimentin, an intermediate filament protein typically expressed in mesenchymal cells, plays a crucial role in various cellular processes, including cell motility, invasion, and metastasis. Different authors discuss the scientific value of using Vimentin as the diagnostic marker for invasive types of cancer, including various kinds (oral, hematogenous, amelanotic, etc.) of Melanoma. Recently, several investigators suggested the possible clinical application of the monoclonal antibodies inhibiting Vimentin activity for vimentin-targeted tumor-specific therapy. Another approach could be developing small molecule inhibitors targeting vimentin or its interacting partners. Authors have found promising results using pannexin 1, or inhibitors of aPKC and other inhibitors of vimentin activity could reduce tumor growth in in-vivo experiments. The development of more specific and effective vimentin-targeted therapies and diagnostic approaches holds significant promise for improving the outcome of melanoma patients.

Keywords

vimentin, melanoma, skin cancer, epithelial cells, immunohistochemical markers