Targeting metastatic melanoma.
Metastatic melanoma has historically been one of the most treatment-refractory types of cancer. Recent headway has been made in understanding the genetic underpinnings of this cancer. A subset of oncogenic events is amenable to targeting with drug therapy. BRAF-targeted therapies represent the first major breakthrough in systemic therapy for melanoma leveraging the new genetic knowledge. Ongoing translational research seeks to identify the most scientifically rational combination treatment strategies to build on single-agent targeted therapy.
Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. kflaherty@partners.org
Keith T
KT
Flaherty
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary*; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf