title: Melanoma: targeting signaling pathways and RaLP.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metastatic melanoma remains one of the most aggressive forms of cancer, with a survival expectation of above six months only in rare cases. Despite advances in the characterization of the underlying molecular pathways and in the development of specific targeted treatments, available chemo- and immuno-therapy are unable to prolong survival significantly in advanced-stage melanoma. Rai like protein (RaLP) is a newly identified Src homology 2 domain containing (Shc) family member selectively expressed during the transition to metastatic melanoma and thus is a potential melanoma-specific drugable target.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To summarize progress in the ongoing therapeutic approaches to metastatic melanoma and discuss RaLP as a potential novel therapeutic target.
  
  
  METHODS
  Current understanding of the major signaling pathways involved in melanoma metastatization and of the corresponding pharmacological inhibitors is discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RaLP might represent a new drugable target for the treatment of metastatic disease.
authors.affiliation: IFOM-IEO Campus, European Institute of Oncology, Department of Experimental Oncology, Via Adamello, 16 20139 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pasini
authors.forename: Margherita Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Turco
authors.forename: Lucilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luzi
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aladowicz
authors.forename: Ernesta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fagiani
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lanfrancone
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D055765:Shc Signaling Adaptor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: C519335:SHC4 protein, human; D055765:Shc Signaling Adaptor Proteins