title: Side effects and toxicities of targeted therapies in stage IV melanoma.
abstract: As the incidence of melanoma continues to increase worldwide, the search for new therapies for advanced (stage IV) melanoma brings with it new patterns of toxicity to contend with. This review covers the toxicity profiles of new treatments for advanced melanoma currently in development. Therefore, the latest literature on melanoma treatment was surveyed for data on reported toxicities. The new types of treatments can be roughly divided into targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immunomodulating agents. Each has its own set of toxicities particular to type and to individual drug. Targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors generally cause fatigue, whereas immunomodulatory agents induce a specific set of adverse events known as immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Despite the incidence of adverse events, these agents hold promise for the treatment of stage IV melanoma. With new treatment opportunities come increased chance of toxic reactions. The key to successful melanoma treatment in the future is likely to be novel combinations of new therapeutic agents.
authors.affiliation: 1Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapy, Istituto Nazionale Tumori-Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy; 2Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; 3Newcastle University, Newcastle, Australia; 4Instituto de Oncologia Angel Rolfo, Buenos Aires, Argentina; 5Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France; 6University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany; 7Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain; and 8Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Paolo A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ascierto
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bastholt
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hersey
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cinat
authors.forename: Alexander M M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Eggermont
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hauschild
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Robert
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors