RECENT ADVANCEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF METASTATIC MALIGNANT MELANOMA

The incidence and mortality rates of melanoma have increased at annually. Disseminated disease is largely refractory to cytotoxic chemotherapy and is almost universally fatal. Several recent advances in melanoma biology offer new strategies for potentially treating this aggressive malignancy. This review focuses on the significant advances involving tumor initiation, etiology, and progression. New experimental models reveal a direct role for initiating melanomas in human skin. Studies on E- and N-cadherin elucidate the importance of local homeostatic mechanisms in regulating tumor progression. Finally, several discoveries concerning apoptotic mechanisms in melanoma suggest strategies for future treatments. Keywords: Melanoma, Tumor Initiation, Malignancy, Cancer, Immunotherapy, Apoptotic Mechanisms