title: Towards personalized therapy for patients with malignant melanoma: molecular insights into the biology of BRAF mutations.
abstract: BRAF mutations have been identified as the most common oncogene mutation in melanomas, especially important in those originating on nonchronically sun-damaged skin. There is a large and continually growing body of evidence regarding the importance of this mutation in targeted therapy for melanoma. In this review, we outline these findings including: molecular pathways used by BRAF, the importance in nonmalignant neoplasms, histologic associations, the relationship of BRAF to KIT and NRAS mutations, and their impact on survival, as well as resistance mechanisms to BRAF inhibitors employed by melanoma. Understanding these topics and how they relate to one another may facilitate the development of new treatments and eventually improve the prognosis for those patients afflicted with this disease.
authors: Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, IU Health Pathology Laboratory, 350 W. 11th St, 4th Floor, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
authors: Joshua R
authors: JR
authors: Bradish
authors: Rodolfo
authors: R
authors: Montironi
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Lopez-Beltran
authors: Kristin M
authors: KM
authors: Post
authors: Gregory T
authors: GT
authors: MacLennan
authors: Liang
authors: L
authors: Cheng
mesh_terms: D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009154:Mutation; D057285:Precision Medicine; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases; C579846:NRAS protein, human