title: Advances in cutaneous melanoma.
abstract: After several decades of slow progress in the field of melanoma, significant advances have been reported in recent years. These include a better understanding of the molecular biology of the tumour, a new staging classification system, insights into the patterns of relapse in early stage, and new drugs for the treatment of advanced disease. Ipilimumab and vemurafenib have just been approved and provide a survival benefit in stage IV. Both compounds are under evaluation in the adjuvant setting, where interferon remains the only drug with proven efficacy. Further investigation is required to treat patients with primary or secondary resistance to new drugs.
authors.affiliation: Service of Oncology, Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain. eespinosa00@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berrocal
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: López Martín
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González Cao
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cerezuela
authors.forename: José Ignacio
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Mayordomo
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martín Algarra
mesh_terms: D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*