Future Directions for Checkpoint Inhibition in Melanoma

Clinical Advances in Hematology & Oncology February 2016, Volume 14, Issue 2 Omid Hamid, MD Chief of Research/Immuno-Oncology Director of Melanoma Program The Angeles Clinic and […]

Molecular Approaches to Tumor Inhibition in Melanoma

H&O What molecular agents are currently available for use in melanoma? MD The US Food Administration (FDA) has approved several molecularly targeted agents for use […]

New Drugs in Development for Melanoma

H&O What are the shortcomings of existing agents for melanoma? KF All of the new melanoma agents approved by the US Food and Drug Administration […]

Advances in Targeted Therapy for Melanoma

Abstract: Metastatic melanoma remains an aggressive malignancy conferring a very poor prognosis, and standard chemotherapeutic and immunologic treatments have not demonstrated an overall survival benefit. No molecularly targeted therapy is approved for the treatment of advanced melanoma. Melanoma is a molecularly heterogeneous malignancy, and optimal treatment in a given patient is likely to depend on the presence of specific molecular abnormalities. Aberrations in components of signal transduction pathways have been identified that modulate melanoma proliferation and survival. Mutations that activate the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway via BRAF or NRAS are present in the majority of melanomas arising on skin intermittently exposed to the sun. Mutations that activate the KIT oncogene are more commonly present in melanomas arising from mucosal, acral, or chronic sun-damaged sites. Inhibitors of the MAPK pathway and of KIT are currently undergoing clinical investigation. In this article, we review advances in targeted strategies to treat different subgroups of patients with melanoma.