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Therapeutic targets in melanoma: MAPKinase pathway

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Abstract

Recent progress in our understanding of the genetic alterations that occur in the pathogenesis of melanoma provides exciting opportunities for therapy. The most important signaling pathways in melanoma lie downstream of NRAS: the RAS-BRAF-MAPK pathway. A great deal of attention has been focused on the high mutation rate in the BRAF oncogene, which approaches 60%, because BRAF itself is an appealing drug substrate and because of the central contribution of BRAF function to melanoma development that the mutation rate signifies. Agents that specifically target BRAF, such as sorafenib, as well as new molecules that function both upstream and downstream of BRAF, are being actively investigated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Center and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Tufts New England Medical Center, 750 Washington Street, Box 6626, 02111, Boston, MA, USA

    Frank G. Haluska MD, PhD

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  1. Frank G. Haluska MD, PhD
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  2. Nageatte Ibrahim MD
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Correspondence to Frank G. Haluska MD, PhD.

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Haluska, F.G., Ibrahim, N. Therapeutic targets in melanoma: MAPKinase pathway. Curr Oncol Rep 8, 400–405 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-006-0065-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-006-0065-x

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