Melanoma as a model for precision medicine in oncology

摘要

Advances in the understanding of the molecular profile of tumour cells and progress in systems biology and bioinformatics have led to the promise of precision medicine for treatment of human cancer. Melanoma has provided an opportunity for insights into both the potential benefit and limitations of precision medicine for cancer.In 2002, half of all human melanoma cells were shown to harbour mutations in the BRAF gene,1 the product of which has an important role in cell division, differentiation, and secretion through the MAPK or RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK pathways. Mutations in BRAF result in constitutive MAPK signalling and have been associated with a number of tumour types. The ability to detect mutations in BRAF from tumour biopsy specimens and the availability of highly specific BRAF inhibitors have begun to change the notion of the clinical management of patients with melanoma.