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Updated: Nov 11, 2025

Spatial and Temporal Control of Murine Melanoma Initiation from Mutant Melanocyte Stem Cells
Published on: June 7, 2019
State of Melanoma: An Historic Overview of a Field in Transition
Lilit Karapetyan1, John M Kirkwood2
1Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Hillman Cancer Center, 5117 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
Abstract:
The management of melanoma significantly improved within the last 25 years. Chemotherapy was the first approved systemic therapeutic approach and resulted in a median overall of survival less than 1 year, without survival improvement in phase III trials. High-dose interferon α2b and IL-2 were introduced for resectable high-risk and advanced disease, respectively, resulting in improved survival and response rates. The anti-CTLA4 and anti-programmed death 1 monoclonal antibodies along with BRAF/MEK targeted therapies are the dominant therapeutic classes of agent for melanoma. This article provides an historic overview of the evolution of melanoma management.
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