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Sphingosine kinase 1 enables communication between melanoma cells and fibroblasts that provides a new link to metastasis

Abstract

In this issue of Oncogene, Albinet et al. have demonstrated a critical role of melanoma sphingosine kinase 1, which catalyses formation of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), in promoting the differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. The myofibroblast sphingosine kinase 1 then promotes the S1P-dependent dissemination (metastasis) of melanoma cells via a S1P receptor 3-mediated mechanism. These findings are of major significance because they provide a novel mechanism of interaction between melanoma and the microenvironment niche in promoting metastasis. These studies therefore identify S1P derived from myofibroblasts and melanoma cells as a novel target for therapeutic intervention.

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Correspondence to N J Pyne.

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Pyne, N., Pyne, S. Sphingosine kinase 1 enables communication between melanoma cells and fibroblasts that provides a new link to metastasis. Oncogene 33, 3361–3363 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/onc.2013.292

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