Melanoma pathophysiology and drug targets

Characterization of the key molecular mechanisms involved in the development and progression of melanoma may contribute to improve classification, treatment and management of patients with such a disease. Indeed, increasing evidence suggests that melanoma develops as a result of accumulated alterations in genetic and molecular pathways in melanocytic cells, generating different subsets of melanoma patients with diverse biology, clinical patterns of behavior and response to therapy. Knowledge of the main features underlying the pathogenesis of melanoma is now mandatory for clinicians. The success of the V600EBRAF inhibitors (such as vemurafenib) in the treatment of the advanced disease underlines the importance of the molecular signature.