title: Genetic alterations and personalized medicine in melanoma: progress and future prospects.
abstract: High-throughput sequencing technologies are providing new insights into the genetic alterations involved in melanomagenesis. It appears likely that most genetic events important in the pathogenesis of melanoma will be discovered over the next few years. Genetic analysis is also increasingly being used to direct patient care. In parallel with the discovery of new genes and the elucidation of molecular pathways important in the development of melanoma, therapies targeting these pathways are becoming available. In other words, the age of personalized medicine has arrived, characterized by molecular profiling of melanoma to identify the relevant genetic alterations and the abnormal signaling mechanisms involved, followed by selection of optimal, individualized therapies. In this review, we summarize the key genetic alterations in melanoma and the development of targeted agents against melanomas bearing specific mutations. These developments in melanoma serve as a model for the implementation of personalized medicine for patients with all cancers.
authors: Affiliations of authors: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany (KGG, DS); Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia (RAS); University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia (RAS, JFT); Melanoma Institute Australia, North Sydney, NSW, Australia (RAS, JFT); Center for Melanoma, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA (KTF); Department of Pathology, and Center for Molecular Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY (RM).
authors: Klaus G
authors: KG
authors: Griewank
authors: Richard A
authors: RA
authors: Scolyer
authors: John F
authors: JF
authors: Thompson
authors: Keith T
authors: KT
authors: Flaherty
authors: Dirk
authors: D
authors: Schadendorf
authors: Rajmohan
authors: R
authors: Murali
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055028:Comparative Genomic Hybridization; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D057285:Precision Medicine / Q000379:methods; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors