Modeling the effects of genetic and diet induced obesity on melanoma progression in zebrafish.

Obesity is a rising concern and associated with an increase in numerous cancers often in a sex-specific manner. Preclinical models are needed to deconvolute the intersection between obesity, sex, and melanoma. We have generated a zebrafish system that can be used as a platform for studying these factors. We studied how germline overexpression of AgRP along with a high-fat diet affects melanomas dependent on BRAFV600E and loss of p53. This revealed an increase in tumor incidence and area in male obese fish, but not females, consistent with the clinical literature. We then determined whether this was further affected with additional somatic mutations in the clinically relevant genes RB1 or PTEN. We found that the male obesogenic effect on melanoma was present with tumors generated with BRAF;p53;RB1 but not BRAF;p53;PTEN. These data indicate that both germline (AgRP) and somatic (BRAF, RB1) mutations contribute to obesity related effects in melanoma. Given the rapid genetic tools available in the zebrafish, this provides a high-throughput system to dissect the interactions of genetics, diet, sex, and host factors in obesity-related cancers.