Purpose of review
Melanoma treatment have been revolutionized since 2010 by the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors, and, for BRAF-mutated
melanoma, targeted therapies based on BRAF and MEK inhibitors, which is a model of effective
targeted therapy in cancer. However, patients with BRAF wild type cannot benefit for such treatments. In this review, we will focus on the current clinical development of targeted therapies beyond BRAF, in
NRAS-mutated and
KIT-altered
melanoma.
Recent findings
In
NRAS-mutated
melanoma, targeted therapies based on MEK inhibition are being developed as monotherapy or in combination with MAPK, PI3K or CDK4/6 inhibitor. Targeted therapies of
KIT-altered
melanoma patients is based in
KIT inhibitor (mostly imatinib, nilotinib), although for both
melanoma subtypes, results are for now disappointing as compared with BRAF and MEK inhibitors in BRAF-mutated
melanoma.
Summary
Combined therapeutic targeted strategies are awaited in
NRAS-mutated and
KIT-altered
melanoma and could provide additional benefit.
