Dear Colleagues,

Mucosal melanoma and acral lentiginous (hereafter acral) melanoma represent two relatively rare subtypes of melanoma where patients have significantly worse cancer outcomes relative to patients with other subtypes of non-acral cutaneous melanoma (i.e., superficial spreading). Mucosal and acral melanomas are defined by genomically and genetically distinct landscapes with notably lower frequencies of BRAF^V600E/K mutations, precluding the majority of patients from being eligible for existing standard-of-care targeted therapies. Further, the relatively lower mutational burdens in mucosal and acral melanomas, due to the sun-protected anatomical sites they arise on, are postulated to be partially responsible for clinical reports of lower efficacy of existing standard-of-care immune-based therapies in these subtypes.

Thus far, much of the focus in the melanoma community has been on characterizing the genomic/genetic characteristics of mucosal and acral melanomas, as well as cataloging potential clinical responses of patients with these diseases to existing melanoma therapies. Preclinical research specifically focused on these rare subtypes is significantly lacking, which hinders the rational design of novel therapeutic strategies for these distinct subtypes of melanoma. This Special Issue will highlight preclinical research on mucosal and acral melanoma in all its diversity, encompassing basic biology and more translational findings across continents that advance our understanding of actionable vulnerabilities within these aggressive rare melanoma subtypes.

Dr. Vito W. Rebecca
Guest Editor

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• acral lentiginous melanoma
• mucosal melanoma
• targeted therapy
• immunotherapy
• metastasis