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Updated: May 15, 2026
A Robust Discovery Platform for the Identification of Novel Mediators of Melanoma Metastasis
Published on: March 8, 2022
New developments in biomarkers for melanoma
Klaus G Griewank1, Selma Ugurel, Dirk Schadendorf
1Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Purpose Of Review:
Therapy of malignant melanoma recently experienced remarkable advances with the introduction of two treatment regimens, gene mutation-based therapies with signaling pathway inhibitors (kinase inhibitors) and treatments with immune modulators. Both strategies prolong patients' survival but still have specific limitations, demanding the identification of additional genetic and immunological biomarkers as predictors of treatment response and prognosis. New developments in that field are summarized in this review.
Recent Findings:
Activating oncogene mutations are important melanoma biomarkers. They predict responsiveness to kinase inhibitor therapies and have therapy independent prognostic relevance. Epigenetic alterations (DNA methylation, chromatin remodeling, and noncoding RNA) in melanoma are emerging as potentially valuable biomarkers. With the successful introduction of immunotherapies for melanoma, interest in immunological biomarkers has grown. Tumor-reactive cytotoxic T cells from patients' peripheral blood were recently proposed to predict prognosis and response to immunotherapy. A superior immune profile assessment could be achieved by combining a detailed characterization of a tumor's immune cell infiltrate with its (immune) gene signature.
Summary:
Genetic melanoma markers have already become clinically relevant. We expect both their role and that of immunological biomarkers to increase significantly in the next few years, enabling personalized therapy with optimal treatment selection for individual tumors.
Insights
New biomarkers for malignant melanoma are crucial for predicting treatment response. Genetic and immune markers show promise for personalizing melanoma therapy and improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- Malignant melanoma treatment has advanced with gene mutation-based therapies and immunotherapies.
- These treatments improve survival but have limitations, necessitating better biomarkers.
- Identifying predictive biomarkers is key for optimizing melanoma treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent developments in genetic and immunological biomarkers for malignant melanoma.
- To highlight their role in predicting treatment response and prognosis.
- To discuss the future of personalized melanoma therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on melanoma biomarkers.
- Analysis of genetic alterations (oncogene mutations, epigenetic changes) as biomarkers.
- Evaluation of immunological markers, including tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and immune gene signatures.
Main Results:
- Activating oncogene mutations are significant melanoma biomarkers, predicting response to kinase inhibitors and prognosis.
- Epigenetic alterations are emerging as valuable biomarkers.
- Tumor-reactive cytotoxic T cells and combined immune profiling predict prognosis and immunotherapy response.
Conclusions:
- Genetic melanoma markers are clinically relevant and their importance will grow.
- Immunological biomarkers are increasingly vital for predicting treatment response.
- Personalized melanoma therapy will be enhanced by integrating genetic and immunological biomarker data.
