title: Understanding melanoma signaling networks as the basis for molecular targeted therapy.
abstract: Despite years of research, there has been little improvement in survival for patients with disseminated melanoma. Recent work has identified mutations in BRAF and NRAS, leading to constitutive mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway as well as constitutive activity in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway, as being critical events in melanoma growth and progression. In the current review, we discuss how these complex mutational and signaling profiles can be understood using a network biology approach, and suggest how an understanding of the key signaling nodes involved in progression and survival will lead to improvements in melanoma therapy.
authors: The Molecular Oncology Program and Comprehensive Melanoma Research Center, The Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA. Keiran.Smalley@moffitt.org
authors: Keiran S M
authors: KS
authors: Smalley
mesh_terms: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors