Melanomas are being analyzed for genetic abnormalities as these dictate the selection of therapy with specific inhibitors.

The MAPK pathway is most frequently mutated in melanoma. In addition, several other mechanisms exist for activation of this pathway.

Related references

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Hingorani, S.R., Jacobetz, M.A., Robertson, G.P., Herlyn, M., Tuveson, D.A.: Suppression of BRAF(V599E) in human melanoma abrogates transformation. Cancer Res 63:5198-5202, 2003. PMID14500344

Edwards, R.H., Ward, M.R., Wu, H., Medina, C.A., Brose, M.S., Volpe, P., Nussen-Lee, S., Haupt, H.M., Martin, A.M., Herlyn, M., Lessin, S.R., Weber, B.L.: Absence of BRAF mutations in UV-protected mucosal melanomas. J Med Genet 41:270-272, 2004. PMID15060100

Smalley, K.S.M., Xiao, M., Villanueva, J., Nguyen, T.K., Flaherty, K.T., Letrero, R., Nathanson, K.L., Herlyn, M.: CRAF inhibition induces Bcl-2 dependent apoptosis in melanomas with non V600E BRAF mutations. Oncogene 28: 85-94, 2009. PMID18794803

Smalley, K.S.M., Contractor, R., Nguyen, T.K., Xiao, M., Medinca, A., Edwards, R., Muthusamy, V., King, A.J., Flaherty, K.T., Bosenberg, M., Herlyn, M., Nathanson, K.L.: Identification of a novel sub-group of melanomas with kit/cyclin-dependent kinase-4 overexpression. Cancer Res. 68: 5743-5752, 2008. PMID18632627
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