Melanoma: Pathogenesis and Targeted Therapy

Abstract

Melanoma is the most aggressive skin malignant tumor, typically exhibiting a high mutation burden and potentially harboring mutations in NRAS, BRAF, or NF1. To enhance survival rates, these driver alterations can achieve significant antitumor activity through targeted therapy. In the past decade, BRAF inhibitors combined with MEK inhibitors significantly improved the prognosis of BRAF mutation melanoma. Nevertheless, researchers have attempted various strategies to block the NRAS signaling pathway, NRAS mutation in melanoma is still considered to be untargetable. In recent years, MEK inhibitors like binimetinib and tunlametinib have displayed the efficacy for NRASmut melanoma, with tunlametinib being the first and only approved MEK inhibitor for advanced NRASmut melanoma. On the other hand, immune checkpoint inhibitors including PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 （CTLA-4） inhibitors changed the treatment landscape of advanced melanoma. In this review, we have summarized the current knowledge of molecular pathogenesis and classification of melanoma. Subsequently, we explored current and potential treatment approaches for melanoma, primarily encompassing BRAF inhibitors, MEK inhibitors, and immunotherapy, with a particular focus on their clinical relevance of development. Finally, the challenges in the treatment of melanoma, particularly in immunotherapy and targeted therapy, are summarized and discussed.