Targeted Therapy for Melanomas Without BRAF V600 Mutation.

Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment paradigm for patients with metastatic melanoma; however, there remains an unmet clinical need for alternative treatment options for those patients who are either intolerant or refractory to immunotherapy. Here we review the role and clinical efficacy of targeted therapies for BRAFV600 wild-type melanoma. Genomic analyses in BRAFV600 wild-type melanoma have previously identified driver mutations along the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT pathways that can be targeted with small molecule inhibitors. New drugs such as bispecific antibodies and antibody drug conjugates may have significant clinical activity even in rare subtypes of melanoma that are less responsive to ICIs. Historically, molecular-targeted therapies have modest clinical success in treating BRAFV600 wild-type melanoma; nevertheless, they may have a significant clinical role in select, genetically distinct groups of patients. Next-generation immunotherapies or immunomodulators may represent the latest breakthrough in the treatment of melanoma. Additional studies are needed to identify novel drug targets and synergistic drug combinations to expand treatment options and optimize clinical outcomes.