title: Targeted Therapies for Melanoma Brain Metastases.
abstract: Brain metastases are a major clinical challenge occurring in up to 60% of patients suffering from metastatic melanoma. They cause significant clinical symptoms and impair the overall survival prognosis. The introduction of targeted therapies including BRAF and MEK inhibitors as well as CTLA-4 and PD-1 axis targeting immune checkpoint inhibitors have dramatically improved the treatment and prognosis of patients with extracranial metastatic melanoma. Although, similar response rates for extra- and intracranial metastases have been reported, only few data from brain metastasis specific trails are available so far. The following review will provide an overview on the currently available data on targeted therapies, remaining questions and the most important side effects in the special clinical situation of melanoma brain metastases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I and Comprehensive Cancer Center CNS Unit (CCC-CNS), Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Anna S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Berghoff
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I and Comprehensive Cancer Center CNS Unit (CCC-CNS), Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria. matthias.preusser@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Preusser
keywords: BRAF inhibitor; Brain metastases; Immune checkpoint inhibitor; Melanoma