Molecular Mechanisms in Formation and Progression of Malignant Melanoma

Malignant melanomas which arise from melanocytes are differentiated at the molecular level as well as cellular level which affects their therapeutic approach. Melanoma pathogenesis is managed by genetic factors. During its formation and progression, signaling pathways such as PI3K, CDK4/6-p16 but primarily MAPK (RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK) play a role in the formation and development of the melanomas. Well defined mutations of melanoma include the expressions of oncogenic forms of BRAF, KIT and NRAS, and loss of tumor suppressor genes such as PTEN, p53 and p16INK4a. In this review, molecular modifications and the various signaling mechanisms that playa role in the development and progression of melanoma will be briefly discussed