X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein as a Therapeutic Target in Metastatic Melanoma

Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer, with notorious resistance to current chemotherapy and immunotherapy. In this issue, Hiscutt et al. report on the prognostic significance of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) in melanoma. The finding that XIAP inhibition significantly increases endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis in melanoma cells suggests that XIAP is a potential therapeutic target for melanoma therapy.