New Potential Agents for Malignant Melanoma Treatment-Most Recent Studies 2020-2022

Abstract

Malignant melanoma (MM) is the most lethal skin cancer. Despite a 4% reduction in mortality over the past few years, an increasing number of new diagnosed cases appear each year. Long-term therapy and the development of resistance to the drugs used drive the search for more and more new agents with anti-melanoma activity. This review focuses on the most recent synthesized anti-melanoma agents from 2020-2022. For selected agents, apart from the analysis of biological activity, the structure-activity relationship (SAR) is also discussed. To the best of our knowledge, the following literature review delivers the latest achievements in the field of new anti-melanoma agents.

Keywords: BRAF kinase; MAPK pathway; PI3K–AKT pathway; anticancer activity; cancer; heterocyclic derivatives; ion channels; melanoma; targeted therapy.

Figure 1

A simplified scheme of the most studied signaling pathways for the development of melanoma: (a) MAPK pathway, (b) PI3K pathway.

Figure 2

Imidazole derivatives with anti-melanoma activity.

Figure 3

Benzimidazole derivatives with anti-melanoma activity.

Figure 4

Imidazothiazole derivatives with anti-melanoma activity.

Figure 5

Quinoline derivatives with anti-melanoma activity.

Figure 6

Pyrazolopirimidine derivatives with anti-melanoma activity.

Figure 7

Indole derivatives with anti-melanoma activity.

Figure 8

Sesquiterpene lactone derivatives with anti-melanoma activity.

Figure 9

Heterotricyclic derivatives with anti-melanoma activity.

Figure 10

Jaspine B derivatives with anti-melanoma activity.

Figure 11

Cinnamic acid derivatives with anti-melanoma activity.

Figure 12

Thiosemicarbazone and -zide derivatives with anti-melanoma activity.

Figure 13

Other derivatives with anti-melanoma activity.