Resistance patterns with tyrosine kinase inhibitors in melanoma:  new insights.
OBJECTIVE
After years of therapeutic approaches with limited effects in metastatic melanoma, new inhibitors of serine-threonine and tyrosine kinases have demonstrated impressive clinical efficacy and improved survival.


RESULTS
This review explains the molecular background for the development of specific kinase inhibitors and briefly summarizes their clinical impact on advanced melanoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite robust early clinical efficacy, the antiproliferative effect of these kinase inhibitors is limited. The resistance mechanisms are explored currently and will help to identify new targets for melanoma therapy.
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. reinhard.dummer@usz.ch
Reinhard
R
Dummer
Keith T
KT
Flaherty
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077484:Vemurafenib
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007211:Indoles; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000077484:Vemurafenib; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf