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Targeted Therapy in Melanoma

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Genetics of Melanoma

Part of the book series: Cancer Genetics ((CANGENETICS))

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Abstract

Melanoma has the highest mutation rate of all common cancers, and genomic research has accelerated the development of multiple new targeted therapies. The most commonly found mutations in melanoma are BRAF, NRAS, and KIT, and this chapter provides a detailed overview of each gene, their association with clinical features, as well as currently approved and investigational targeted approaches for each of these mutations. Safety profiles and underlying mechanisms of resistance are presented. Lastly, GNAQ/GNA11 mutations, found in up to 80 % of uveal melanoma patients, are detailed, and new insights into the role of the PTEN/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 430, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Isabella C. Glitza MD & Kevin B. Kim MD

  2. Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA

    Dae Won Kim MD

  3. Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, 645 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1006, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Young Kwang Chae MD

  4. California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Kevin B. Kim MD

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  1. Isabella C. Glitza MD
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  2. Dae Won Kim MD
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  4. Kevin B. Kim MD
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Correspondence to Isabella C. Glitza MD .

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  1. Chief of Dermatopathology Section, Associate Professor of Pathology and Der, Houston, Texas, USA

    Carlos A. Torres-Cabala

  2. The University of Texas MD Anderson Canc, Associate Professor of Pathology and Der, Houston, Texas, USA

    Jonathan L. Curry

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Glitza, I.C., Kim, D.W., Chae, Y.K., Kim, K.B. (2016). Targeted Therapy in Melanoma. In: Torres-Cabala, C., Curry, J. (eds) Genetics of Melanoma. Cancer Genetics. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3554-3_11

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