Peroxisome Proliferator-Activating Receptors: A New Way to Treat Melanoma?

Accumulating evidence suggests that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ)-binding ligands, currently used to treat diabetes, could be used to treat melanoma. Dissociation of their effects on apoptosis from pharmacological activity (i.e., PPARγ activation) provides a molecular basis for exploiting these compounds to develop molecularly targeted anticancer agents. In this issue, Botton and co-workers demonstrate in vitro and in vivo antimelanoma effects of ciglitazone, a synthetic ligand-activating PPARγ