Targeting brain metastases in patients with melanoma

Biomed Res Int. 2013:2013:186563. doi: 10.1155/2013/186563. Epub 2013 Dec 23.

Abstract

Patients with brain metastases from malignant melanoma historically have a very poor outcome. Surgery and radiotherapy can be used, but for the majority of patients the disease will progress quickly. In the recent past, patients with brain metastases derived only minimal benefit from cytotoxic chemotherapy. Novel therapies that have been shown to be superior to chemotherapy in metastatic melanoma have made their way in clinic and data regarding their use in patients with treated or untreated brain metastases are encouraging. In this paper we describe the use of vemurafenib, dabrafenib, and ipilimumab in patients with melanoma disseminated to the brain in addition to other treatments currently in development.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / administration & dosage
  • Indoles / administration & dosage
  • Ipilimumab
  • Melanoma / drug therapy*
  • Melanoma / genetics
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Mutation
  • Oximes / administration & dosage
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / genetics
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Sulfonamides / administration & dosage
  • Vemurafenib

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Imidazoles
  • Indoles
  • Ipilimumab
  • Oximes
  • Sulfonamides
  • Vemurafenib
  • BRAF protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
  • dabrafenib