The skin cancer Melanoma can metastasise through the lymphatic system to lymph nodes and solid organs, resulting in less than 10% of patients surviving 5 years after diagnosis. In normal tissues the maintenance of cytoskeletal regulation prevents abnormal cells from spreading and is essential to stopping metastatic change.

This study aims to extend our knowledge of this by characterising the role of Drebrin, an actin-binding protein involved in cytoskeletal regulation. It will also examine Drebrin’s interaction partners and regulators in the progression and metastatic spread of melanoma; and ultimately aims to identify molecules which could serve as predictive markers and therapeutic targets.

The commonest cause of death associated with cancer is its ability to colonise and proliferate in other organs. It is becoming increasingly clear that environmental influences have a huge part to play in both the initiation and progression of a large number of cancers.

Evidence suggests that both the incidence and level of mortality associated with malignant melanoma is rising globally, making research associated with the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma internationally relevant. This is particularly important for the South West of England which has the highest incidence and mortality rates for melanoma in the UK, making any advancement in the diagnosis or treatment of this disease of huge relevance to the local population.

As well as funding from the ERDF, this work has received funding from the Pinnacle Cancer Research Trust.