VEGFA and neoplasm: These results indicated that downregulated miR-146a expression occurring through the acquisition of resistance to BRAF/MEKi-activated tumor-derived components contributes to melanoma survival and the generation of a tumor-promoting immunosuppressive TME; this finding was also confirmed by the reduced CCL2, IL6, IL8 and VEGFA secretion in the culture supernatants (Fig. 5c).