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Breakthrough therapies in melanoma


After several decades of slow progress, scientific discoveries are now changing the treatment of advanced melanoma. Over the past 3 years, the list of immunotherapeutic and targeted agents approved by regulatory agencies is rapidly growing. In this editorial, we highlight advances in science and clinical medicine, the limitations of modern therapies and the future perspectives of cancer genomics in the management of melanoma patients.

Increasing incidence and high death rates in advanced disease suggest the difficulties in the management of malignant melanoma [1]. The disease affects a younger population with a rising incidence of pediatric melanoma in the USA [2]. Prognosis suggests a stage-depended manner. A 5-year survival rate of 78, 59 and 40% for patients with stage IIIA, IIIB and IIIC, respectively, has been reported with 1-year survival rate of 62, 53 and 33% only for M1a, for M1b for M1c, respectively [2].

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