Gurung et al. show that young subcutaneous adipocytes provide lipids and phosphatidylcholine to melanoma cells, which activates PI3K-AKT, OXPHOS, and oxidative stress. High OXPHOS reduces metastatic burden and associates with lung tropism. Conversely, aged subcutaneous adipocytes provide ceramides to melanoma cells, which activates S1P-STAT3-IL-6 signaling, increasing total metastatic burden and liver metastasis.

Institute researchers explain age-related metastasis in melanoma. Published in Cancer Cell, the Skin Cancer & Ageing team show how lipids influence metastasis and tropism, with implications for therapy.

Sex bias affects cancer incidence, mortality, and therapy response; and the molecular landscape of cancer differs by sex. This work reveals men are more susceptible to cutaneous aggressive squamous cell carcinoma, in contrast to women who activate stronger immune responses when challenged with the same carcinogens.

Authors studied how UVR modifies dermal fibroblast function, the extracellular matrix (ECM) and melanoma invasion. They highlight the prognostic power of collagen in aged primary melanoma tumours.

This year was a significant period for our Institute as we made the long-anticipated return to the Paterson Building, our brand-new research facility on the Christie NHS Foundation Trust site. Find out how our staff continued to excel in all aspects of Institute life and reconnected with the wider scientific community within the Manchester Cancer Research Centre.