title: BRAF signaling and targeted therapies in melanoma.
abstract: The RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway has emerged as a major player in the induction and maintenance of melanoma, particularly the protein kinase BRAF, mutated in approximately 44% of melanoma cases. The availability of new drugs affecting the components of this pathway and pathways that may cooperate with MAPK signaling, means that targeted therapies are fast becoming a real option in the clinical management of melanoma. The authors discuss what they learned from clinical trials using first- and second-generation inhibitors to this pathway.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cell and Molecular Biology, Institute of Cancer Research, 237 Fulham Road, London SW3 6JB, UK.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dhomen
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marais
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D000077157:Sorafenib; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines; D009536:Niacinamide; D000077157:Sorafenib; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases