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Molecular insights into melanoma brain metastases
Author(s) -
Westphal Dana,
Glitza Oliva Isabella C.,
Niessner Heike
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.30594
Subject(s) - medicine , melanoma , brain metastasis , cancer , metastatic melanoma , disease , oncology , brain cancer , metastasis , cancer research
Substantial proportions of patients with metastatic melanoma develop brain metastases during the course of their disease, often resulting in significant morbidity and death. Despite recent advances with BRAF/MEK and immune‐checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of patients who have melanoma with extracerebral metastases, patients who have melanoma brain metastases still have poor overall survival, highlighting the need for further therapy options. A deeper understanding of the molecular pathways involved in the development of melanoma brain metastases is required to develop more brain‐specific therapies. Here, the authors summarize the currently known preclinical data and describe steps involved in the development of melanoma brain metastases. Only by knowing the molecular background is it possible to design new therapeutic agents that can be used to improve the outcome of patients with melanoma brain metastases. Cancer 2017;123:2163‐75. © 2017 American Cancer Society .