New molecular targets in melanoma.

Metastatic melanoma remains a disease with few therapeutic options and no regimen that prolongs survival. Peptide and whole-cell vaccines that use cell surface proteins unique to melanoma to engender a specific immune response have not been associated with significant antitumor activity in patients with unresectable metastatic disease. The commonly used chemotherapeutic agents have limited efficacy and do not capitalize on abnormalities that are unique to melanoma [1]. Therapies that target the molecular pathophysiology of metastatic melanoma provide hope that more effective treatments will soon be available.