Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41681896›Full record

ReviewCancers2026

ABCB5: A Key Regulator Linking Stem Cell Plasticity, Tumor Microenvironment, and Therapy Resistance in Cutaneous Melanoma.

Andreea Cătălina Tinca, Adrian Horațiu Sabău, Andreea Raluca Cozac-Szoke, Diana Maria Chiorean, Bianca Andreea Lazar, Raluca-Diana Hagău, Iuliu Gabriel Cocuz, Raluca Niculescu, Irina Bianca Kosovski, Sofia Teodora Muntean and 2 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cancers, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Andreea Cătălina TincaPathophysiology Department, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-9603-6256
Adrian Horațiu SabăuPathophysiology Department, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania.
Andreea Raluca Cozac-SzokePathophysiology Department, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania.
Diana Maria ChioreanPathophysiology Department, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania.
Bianca Andreea LazarPathology Department, Clinical County Hospital Mureș, 540136 Târgu Mureș, Romania.
Raluca-Diana HagăuPathology Department, Clinical County Hospital Mureș, 540136 Târgu Mureș, Romania.ORCID 0009-0001-7191-573X
Iuliu Gabriel CocuzPathophysiology Department, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania.ORCID 0000-0001-5985-2433
Raluca NiculescuPathophysiology Department, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania.ORCID 0009-0000-9016-5412
Irina Bianca KosovskiPathophysiology Department, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-1172-8262
Sofia Teodora MunteanPathophysiology Department, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania.ORCID 0009-0007-7066-7424
Sabin Gligore TurdeanPathology Department, Clinical County Hospital Mureș, 540136 Târgu Mureș, Romania.ORCID 0000-0001-7085-4755
Ovidiu Simion CotoiPathophysiology Department, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cutaneous melanoma is one of the most aggressive skin cancers. Over the years, multiple studies have focused on identifying novel treatment strategies, with increasing attention directed toward immune-modulating mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment. Among these, ATP-binding cassette transporters and stem-associated pathways have been shown to influence drug response and immune escape. ABCB5 is a gene with multiple isoforms that significantly influences the immune response. In melanoma, the ABCB5α isoform is predominantly expressed, particularly in tumor stem-like cells where it promotes chemoresistance through active drug efflux. ABCB5 has also been linked to the regulation of PI3K/Akt, BCL-2, and miR-145-associated pathways. Moreover, ABCB5-positive cells contribute to the formation of an immunosuppressive microenvironment by secreting cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, TGF-β) and expressing immune checkpoint ligands, such as PD-L1, thereby favoring tumor progression and a poor prognosis. This review integrates current data on the molecular and microenvironmental mechanisms underlying melanoma progression and therapy resistance, and positions ABCB5 within the broader landscape of melanoma resistance mechanisms, emphasizing both its potential and its current limitations as a biomarker and therapeutic target.

Indexed as

ABCB5melanomatherapy resistancetumor microenvironment

Identifiers

PMID41681896
PMCPMC12896912

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.