Melanoma treatment in review

Abstract

Beatriz Domingues,1–3 José Manuel Lopes,1,2,4,5 Paula Soares,1,2,5 Helena Pópulo1,2 1Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal; 2Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; 3Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; 4Department of Pathology, Hospital S João, Porto, Portugal; 5Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal Abstract: Melanoma represents the most aggressive and the deadliest form of skin cancer. Current therapeutic approaches include surgical resection, chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, immunotherapy, biochemotherapy, and targeted therapy. The therapeutic strategy can include single agents or combined therapies, depending on the patient’s health, stage, and location of the tumor. The efficiency of these treatments can be decreased due to the development of diverse resistance mechanisms. New therapeutic targets have emerged from studies of the genetic profile of melanocytes and from the identification of molecular factors involved in the pathogenesis of the malignant transformation. In this review, we aim to survey therapies approved and under evaluation for melanoma treatment and relevant research on the molecular mechanisms underlying melanomagenesis. Keywords: cancer, melanoma, therapy, targets

Keywords

• cancer
• melanoma
• therapy
• targets