Blocking ITK Activity Slows Growth of Malignant Melanoma in Mouse Model

Development of malignant melanoma was found to depend to some extent on the activity of the enzyme produced by the gene interleukin-2 (IL2) inducible T-cell kinase (ITK).

Investigators at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill, USA) used an ITK-specific monoclonal antibody to probe sections from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor blocks or melanoma cell line arrays. ITK was visualized by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Results published in the May 1, 2015, issue of the journal Clinical Cancer Research revealed that ITK was expressed at greater levels in primary and metastatic melanomas than in non-cancerous moles. In metastatic melanoma samples, 91% had higher expression levels than of the non-cancerous moles.

Treatment of melanoma-bearing mice with a low molecular weight ITK inhibitor reduced growth of ITK-expressing xenografts or established native melanomas.

“We have discovered that ITK is highly expressed in melanoma even though it was thought to be restricted to immune cells, and when you inhibit it, you decrease melanoma growth,” said senior author Dr. Nancy E. Thomas, professor of dermatology at the University of North Carolina. “Therefore, we think it is a good potential drug target.”

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