title: Molecular biology of melanoma.
abstract: Dermatologists and dermatopathologists face the difficulties of accurately diagnosing and treating atypical melanocytic lesions and melanomas. Despite huge advances in medicine, our management of melanoma has not significantly changed in many years. The biggest gains made recently have been in the identification of common mutations in melanoma and the use of these mutations to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma. To understand these gains one must first be familiar with the regulatory pathways of melanoma and the most common mutations found there. This article will review the function and significance of the most studied mutations in melanoma and briefly discuss new and planned treatment options.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA. millej@musc.edu
authors.forename: Julie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Swick
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Maize
mesh_terms: D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000235:genetics; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf