The tumor immune microenvironment in primary cutaneous melanoma

Catherine Zilberg; Angela L Ferguson; J Guy Lyons; Ruta Gupta; Diona L Damian

doi:10.1007/s00403-024-03758-8

The tumor immune microenvironment in primary cutaneous melanoma

Arch Dermatol Res. 2025 Jan 18;317(1):273. doi: 10.1007/s00403-024-03758-8.

Authors

Catherine Zilberg^{1

2}, Angela L Ferguson^{3

4}, J Guy Lyons^{4

5}, Ruta Gupta^{3

6}, Diona L Damian^{5

7}

Affiliations

¹ The University of Sydney, NSW , Camperdown, 2050, Australia. czil3665@uni.sydney.edu.au.
² Department of Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, NSW Health Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Missenden Rd, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia. czil3665@uni.sydney.edu.au.
³ The University of Sydney, NSW , Camperdown, 2050, Australia.
⁴ Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Missenden Rd, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia.
⁵ Department of Dermatology, The University of Sydney at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Missenden Rd, NSW , Camperdown, 2050, Australia.
⁶ Department of Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, NSW Health Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Missenden Rd, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia.
⁷ Melanoma Institute Australia, 40 Rocklands Rd, NSW, Wollstonecraft, 2065, Australia.

Abstract

Melanoma is an immunogenic tumor. The melanoma tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is made up of a heterogenous mix of both immune and non-immune cells as well as a multitude of signaling molecules. The interactions between tumor cells, immune cells and signaling molecules affect tumor progression and therapeutic responses. Understanding the composition and function of the TIME in primary cutaneous melanoma is useful for prognostication and therapeutic decisions. This review provides an overview of the components of the TIME in primary cutaneous melanoma, and their influence on clinical outcomes.

Keywords: Immunology; Melanoma; Skin neoplasms; Tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology
Melanoma* / immunology
Melanoma* / pathology
Melanoma, Cutaneous Malignant
Prognosis
Skin Neoplasms* / immunology
Skin Neoplasms* / pathology
Tumor Microenvironment* / immunology