title: Current advances and perspectives in the treatment of advanced melanoma.
abstract: Melanoma has long been considered as an extremely therapy-resistant tumour. Recent developments in the area of immunotherapy as well as targeted therapy showed rapid development and excellent results. The anti-CTLA-4 antibody ipilimumab, which was approved in the USA and Europe in 2011, was the first substance in melanoma therapy to demonstrate an overall survival benefit. Another approval is expected in Europe for the specific BRAF-inhibitor vemurafenib, which has shown a significant impact on progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with the BRAF(V600E)  mutation. In this review the relevant agents in the substance classes of immunomodulatory drugs and small molecules are presented and discussed, and future prospects for combination therapies and developments in melanoma treatment are outlined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Skin Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Livingstone
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zimmer
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vaubel
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schadendorf
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000074324:Ipilimumab; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077484:Vemurafenib
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007211:Indoles; D000074324:Ipilimumab; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000077484:Vemurafenib