{
  "abstract": "Cutaneous melanoma remains lethal once metastatic despite advances in immune checkpoint blockade and BRAF/MEK-directed therapy. Gangliosides are surface-accessible sialylated glycosphingolipids that regulate membrane organization, adhesion, and signaling, representing potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This narrative review evaluated the translational readiness of ganglioside-directed strategies in cutaneous melanoma, without assuming that evidence from other GD2- or GD3-positive cancers is directly transferable. We synthesized melanoma-specific evidence on GD3-linked focal adhesion signaling, p130Cas/paxillin activity, PI3K–AKT and MAPK outputs, and distinct phenotypes associated with GD3, GD2, and GM3. We then applied an evidence-gated framework distinguishing melanoma clinical evidence, melanoma preclinical evidence, cross-tumor translational evidence, and hypothesis-generating claims. Direct contemporary clinical evidence in melanoma remains limited. Antibody, cellular, and biosynthetic enzyme strategies require diagnostic-quality antigen profiling, demonstration of surface accessibility and functional dependency, and prospective monitoring for antigen escape and neurotoxicity. Natural compounds, particularly quercetin, are mechanistic probes or formulation-enabled leads: a 2024 study reported reduced GM3/GD3 abundance and FAK/paxillin/AKT signaling in melanoma cell lines, but high in vitro concentrations and the lack of pharmacokinetic or in vivo validation preclude therapeutic conclusions. We proposed a minimum evidence package and go/no-go criteria for clinical translation, specifying experiments needed to advance ganglioside biology into biomarker-defined melanoma interventions.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Biotechnology, College of Engineering, Daegu University, 201 Deagudae-ro, Jillyang, Gyeongsan 38453, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea",
    "Department of Biological Science, College of Health Sciences, Wonkwang University, 460 Iksan-daero, Iksan-si 54538, Jeonbuk, Republic of Korea",
    "Division of Biodrug Evaluation, New Drug Development Center, Osong Medical Innovation Foundation (K-12 Bio Health), Cheongju 28160, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea",
    "Futuristic Animal Resource & Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Cheongju 28116, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea",
    "Department of Companion Animal Industry, Wonkwang University, 460 Iksan-daero, Iksan-si 54538, Jeonbuk, Republic of Korea",
    "Center for Animal Resources Development, Wonkwang University, 460 Iksan-daero, Iksan-si 54538, Jeonbuk, Republic of Korea",
    "Institute for Glycoscience, Wonkwang University, 460 Iksan-daero, Iksan-si 54538, Jeonbuk, Republic of Korea"
  ],
  "article_type": "review article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 11,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Deog-Bon Koo",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-7825-9598"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Kyongtae Kim"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Juhwan Kim"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Hyo Gyeong Yun"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Eun Bin Song"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Min Young Kim"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Jae-Sung Ryu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Ji-Su Kim"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Soyeon Kim"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Hyun-A Lee"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        6
      ],
      "name": "Young-Kug Choo"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/14snr6xhtww7j.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/ijms27209021",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13704444",
  "id": "14snr6xhtww7j",
  "issns": [
    "1422-0067"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9021",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221527652",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13704444?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13704444",
  "pmid": "42941795",
  "published": "2026-10-12",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/14snr6xhtww7j.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:55Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/ijms27209021",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9021"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:22:24Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42941795",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42941795"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:1312|Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research",
      "subfield": "molecular-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Gangliosides in Cutaneous Melanoma: Molecular Mechanisms, Translational Evidence Gaps, and Preclinical Natural-Compound Leads",
  "title_text": "Gangliosides in Cutaneous Melanoma: Molecular Mechanisms, Translational Evidence Gaps, and Preclinical Natural-Compound Leads",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:22:24Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/14snr6xhtww7j",
  "venue": "International Journal of Molecular Sciences",
  "versions": []
}