Biomarkers in Melanoma: Lessons from Translational Medicine

The treatment landscape for advanced melanoma has been rapidly evolving. As new therapies become available, there is a need for better biomarkers to detect disease, guide patient selection, and monitor for response. The use of tumor genetics has been able to predict responses to targeted therapy in melanoma. However, the role of biomarkers in melanoma detection, monitoring, and immunotherapy has been less successful and is still being defined. Translational studies in many areas of melanoma are being performed to identify biomarkers and validate their clinical role. In this review, we examine the status of biomarkers in melanoma and areas of future development.