title: Melanoma: oncogenic drivers and the immune system.
abstract: Advances and in-depth understanding of the biology of melanoma over the past 30 years have contributed to a change in the consideration of melanoma as one of the most therapy-resistant malignancies. The finding that oncogenic BRAF mutations drive tumor growth in up to 50% of melanomas led to a molecular therapy revolution for unresectable and metastatic disease. Moving beyond BRAF, inactivation of immune regulatory checkpoints that limit T cell responses to melanoma has provided targets for cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss the molecular biology of melanoma and we focus on the recent advances of molecularly targeted and immunotherapeutic approaches.
authors.affiliation: 1 Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quiron-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy ; 3 Pangaea Biotech, Quirón Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain ; 4 Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain ; 5 Medical Oncology Unit, Human Pathology Department, University of Messina, Messina 98122, Italy ; 6 Instituto Oncológico de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina ; 7 Molecular Oncology Research (MORe) Foundation, Barcelona, Spain ; 8 Germans Trias i Pujol Health Sciences Institute and Hospital, Campus Can Ruti, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Niki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karachaliou
authors.affiliation: 1 Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quiron-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy ; 3 Pangaea Biotech, Quirón Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain ; 4 Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain ; 5 Medical Oncology Unit, Human Pathology Department, University of Messina, Messina 98122, Italy ; 6 Instituto Oncológico de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina ; 7 Molecular Oncology Research (MORe) Foundation, Barcelona, Spain ; 8 Germans Trias i Pujol Health Sciences Institute and Hospital, Campus Can Ruti, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pilotto
authors.affiliation: 1 Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quiron-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy ; 3 Pangaea Biotech, Quirón Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain ; 4 Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain ; 5 Medical Oncology Unit, Human Pathology Department, University of Messina, Messina 98122, Italy ; 6 Instituto Oncológico de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina ; 7 Molecular Oncology Research (MORe) Foundation, Barcelona, Spain ; 8 Germans Trias i Pujol Health Sciences Institute and Hospital, Campus Can Ruti, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Teixidó
authors.affiliation: 1 Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quiron-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy ; 3 Pangaea Biotech, Quirón Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain ; 4 Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain ; 5 Medical Oncology Unit, Human Pathology Department, University of Messina, Messina 98122, Italy ; 6 Instituto Oncológico de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina ; 7 Molecular Oncology Research (MORe) Foundation, Barcelona, Spain ; 8 Germans Trias i Pujol Health Sciences Institute and Hospital, Campus Can Ruti, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Viteri
authors.affiliation: 1 Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quiron-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy ; 3 Pangaea Biotech, Quirón Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain ; 4 Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain ; 5 Medical Oncology Unit, Human Pathology Department, University of Messina, Messina 98122, Italy ; 6 Instituto Oncológico de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina ; 7 Molecular Oncology Research (MORe) Foundation, Barcelona, Spain ; 8 Germans Trias i Pujol Health Sciences Institute and Hospital, Campus Can Ruti, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Cao
authors.affiliation: 1 Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quiron-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy ; 3 Pangaea Biotech, Quirón Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain ; 4 Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain ; 5 Medical Oncology Unit, Human Pathology Department, University of Messina, Messina 98122, Italy ; 6 Instituto Oncológico de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina ; 7 Molecular Oncology Research (MORe) Foundation, Barcelona, Spain ; 8 Germans Trias i Pujol Health Sciences Institute and Hospital, Campus Can Ruti, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riso
authors.affiliation: 1 Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quiron-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy ; 3 Pangaea Biotech, Quirón Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain ; 4 Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain ; 5 Medical Oncology Unit, Human Pathology Department, University of Messina, Messina 98122, Italy ; 6 Instituto Oncológico de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina ; 7 Molecular Oncology Research (MORe) Foundation, Barcelona, Spain ; 8 Germans Trias i Pujol Health Sciences Institute and Hospital, Campus Can Ruti, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morales-Espinosa
authors.affiliation: 1 Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quiron-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy ; 3 Pangaea Biotech, Quirón Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain ; 4 Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain ; 5 Medical Oncology Unit, Human Pathology Department, University of Messina, Messina 98122, Italy ; 6 Instituto Oncológico de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina ; 7 Molecular Oncology Research (MORe) Foundation, Barcelona, Spain ; 8 Germans Trias i Pujol Health Sciences Institute and Hospital, Campus Can Ruti, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.affiliation: 1 Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quiron-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy ; 3 Pangaea Biotech, Quirón Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain ; 4 Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain ; 5 Medical Oncology Unit, Human Pathology Department, University of Messina, Messina 98122, Italy ; 6 Instituto Oncológico de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina ; 7 Molecular Oncology Research (MORe) Foundation, Barcelona, Spain ; 8 Germans Trias i Pujol Health Sciences Institute and Hospital, Campus Can Ruti, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Imane
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chaib
authors.affiliation: 1 Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quiron-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy ; 3 Pangaea Biotech, Quirón Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain ; 4 Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain ; 5 Medical Oncology Unit, Human Pathology Department, University of Messina, Messina 98122, Italy ; 6 Instituto Oncológico de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina ; 7 Molecular Oncology Research (MORe) Foundation, Barcelona, Spain ; 8 Germans Trias i Pujol Health Sciences Institute and Hospital, Campus Can Ruti, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Mariacarmela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santarpia
authors.affiliation: 1 Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quiron-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy ; 3 Pangaea Biotech, Quirón Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain ; 4 Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain ; 5 Medical Oncology Unit, Human Pathology Department, University of Messina, Messina 98122, Italy ; 6 Instituto Oncológico de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina ; 7 Molecular Oncology Research (MORe) Foundation, Barcelona, Spain ; 8 Germans Trias i Pujol Health Sciences Institute and Hospital, Campus Can Ruti, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Richardet
authors.affiliation: 1 Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quiron-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy ; 3 Pangaea Biotech, Quirón Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain ; 4 Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain ; 5 Medical Oncology Unit, Human Pathology Department, University of Messina, Messina 98122, Italy ; 6 Instituto Oncológico de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina ; 7 Molecular Oncology Research (MORe) Foundation, Barcelona, Spain ; 8 Germans Trias i Pujol Health Sciences Institute and Hospital, Campus Can Ruti, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bria
authors.affiliation: 1 Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quiron-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain ; 2 Department of Medical Oncology, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy ; 3 Pangaea Biotech, Quirón Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain ; 4 Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain ; 5 Medical Oncology Unit, Human Pathology Department, University of Messina, Messina 98122, Italy ; 6 Instituto Oncológico de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina ; 7 Molecular Oncology Research (MORe) Foundation, Barcelona, Spain ; 8 Germans Trias i Pujol Health Sciences Institute and Hospital, Campus Can Ruti, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosell
keywords: BRAF; Melanoma; biology; immune system; resistance; targeted therapies