Melanoma is one of the most aggressive skin cancers, with increasing rates of occurrence. Although it has not traditionally been considered hormonally driven, recent evidence links androgen receptor (AR) signaling to important aspects of melanoma biology, including tumor growth, metastasis, immune evasion, and resistance to therapy. Mechanistically, AR promotes melanoma progression by activating a pro-metastatic gene program, suppressing anti-tumor immune responses, and altering the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, emerging data indicate AR’s involvement in resistance to chemotherapy and immune-based therapies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of AR’s intricate role in melanoma, focusing on its molecular mechanisms, its impact on immune evasion and therapy resistance, and its potential clinical applications. We also assess AR-targeted strategies, including androgen deprivation therapy and AR antagonists, to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Understanding AR’s role in melanoma could lead to new treatment options, particularly for sex-specific patient groups.
黑色素瘤是最具侵袭性的皮肤癌之一，其发病率呈上升趋势。尽管传统上并不认为该疾病受激素驱动，但最新证据表明雄激素受体（AR）信号通路与黑色素瘤生物学的重要方面存在关联，包括肿瘤生长、转移、免疫逃逸及治疗抵抗。从机制上看，AR通过激活促转移基因程序、抑制抗肿瘤免疫反应及改变肿瘤微环境来促进黑色素瘤进展。此外，新出现的数据表明AR参与了对化疗及免疫疗法的耐药过程。本综述全面阐述了AR在黑色素瘤中的复杂作用，重点关注其分子机制、对免疫逃逸与治疗抵抗的影响及其潜在临床应用价值。同时评估了以AR为靶点的治疗策略（包括雄激素剥夺疗法和AR拮抗剂）在提升化疗、靶向治疗及免疫疗法疗效方面的作用。深入理解AR在黑色素瘤中的作用机制，可能为开发新的治疗方案提供方向，尤其对具有性别特异性差异的患者群体具有重要意义。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家