Treatment of acral and mucosal melanoma: Current and emerging targeted therapies

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Dermatology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Targeted therapies have transformed advanced cutaneous melanoma treatment.
• Rare melanoma subtypes, acral melanoma (AM) and mucosal melanomas (MM), exhibit limited benefit from current targeted therapies.
• The molecular landscape and clinical characteristics of AM and MM are poorly understood due to under-representation in studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the molecular landscapes of AM and MM.
• To identify actionable therapeutic targets and pathways for molecular targeted therapies.
• To guide the development of more effective treatments for these rare melanoma subtypes.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current knowledge on AM and MM molecular profiles.
• Focus on actionable targets and pathways for molecular targeted therapies.
• Summary of current and emerging treatment strategies for AM and MM.

Main Results:

• Limited frequency of common mutations (BRAF, KIT) in AM and MM limits current targeted therapy efficacy.
• Lack of genotype-specific treatments for most AM and MM patients without common driver mutations.
• Unique molecular landscapes of AM and MM require further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the molecular drivers of AM and MM is crucial for developing novel targeted therapies.
• Further research is needed to address the unmet needs in treating these aggressive melanoma subtypes.
• Developing genotype-specific treatments will improve clinical outcomes for patients with AM and MM.