title: Melanoma: diagnosis, staging, and treatment. Consensus group recommendations.
abstract: The incidence of malignant melanoma is increasing worldwide. In Spain, its incidence is increasing faster than any other cancer type, with a 5-year survival rate of about 85%. The impact and characteristics of malignant melanoma in the Spanish population can be ascertained from the national melanoma registry of the Academia Española de Dermatología y Venereología. This review presents consensus group recommendations for the diagnosis, staging and treatment of malignant melanoma in Spain. Incidence and mortality are discussed, as well as evaluation of various prevention and treatment strategies. Prognostic factors, such as BRAF and C-KIT mutations, which are expected to become routine staging procedures over the next few years, are outlined, especially in relation to treatment options. The use of recently approved targeted agents such as ipilimumab, a cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitor, and vemurafenib, a BRAF inhibitor, in metastatic disease are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Hospital General Universitario, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berrocal
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cabañas
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fernández-de-Misa
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martín-Algarra
authors.forename: José Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Martínez-Cedres
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ríos-Buceta
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Peralto
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000074324:Ipilimumab; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009154:Mutation; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077484:Vemurafenib
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007211:Indoles; D000074324:Ipilimumab; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000077484:Vemurafenib; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf