Resumen de Advances in cutaneous melanoma

E. Espinosa Arranz, Alfonso Berrocal Jaime, José Antonio López Martín, María González Cao, Pablo Cerezuela Fuentes, José Ignacio Mayordomo Cámara, Salvador Martín Algarra

• After several decades of slow progress in the field of melanoma, significant advances have been reported in recent years. These include a better understanding of the molecular biology of the tumour, a new staging classification system, insights into the patterns of relapse in early stage, and new drugs for the treatment of advanced disease. Ipilimumab and vemurafenib have just been approved and provide a survival benefit in stage IV. Both compounds are under evaluation in the adjuvant setting, where interferon remains the only drug with proven efficacy. Further investigation is required to treat patients with primary or secondary resistance to new drugs.