title: Insights into melanoma: targeting the mTOR pathway for therapeutics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cutaneous melanoma represents < 5% of all skin cancers, but is responsible for the majority of skin cancer-related deaths. Ocular melanoma is the most common primary eye tumor in adults, and accounts for approximately 5% of all melanomas. Despite new diagnostic and therapeutic tools, the overall survival of patients treated for melanoma has not improved and most patients die of metastatic disease. Therefore, clarification of the molecular mechanisms underlying the etiopathogenesis of cutaneous and ocular melanomas may help determining the prognosis and tailoring therapy of patients harboring melanomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this review the authors aim to survey relevant research in the molecular mechanisms underlying melanomagenesis, and therapies under evaluation with emphasis in the mTOR pathway.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite an increasingly understanding of the genetics and biochemistry of melanoma, the mechanisms underlying their complex interactions are still poorly understood. Their clarification will lead to more successful therapeutic strategies and evidence-based management of patients with melanoma. More active drug combinations together with appropriate melanoma patient stratification based on molecular biomarkers will be essential for new advances in melanoma therapy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of University of Porto (IPATIMUP) , Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal. psoares@ipatimup.pt
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pópulo
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lopes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C546842:MTOR protein, human; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases