Biomarkers in Melanoma: Lessons from Translational Medicine

While most patients who are diagnosed with melanoma do not have metastatic disease, there is a high risk of recurrence. This leads to a large need for better prognostic tests and biomarkers to help detect melanoma earlier in recurrence. Biomarkers have a large role in guiding targeted therapy in melanoma treatment and to help examine mechanisms of resistance. As immunotherapy in melanoma becomes more advanced, so does the need for biomarkers to guide treatment selection and predict toxicity. The treatment landscape for advanced melanoma has been rapidly evolving. As new therapies become available, there is a need for better biomarkers to detect disease, guide patient selection, and monitor for response. The use of tumor genetics has been able to predict responses to targeted therapy in melanoma. However, the role of biomarkers in melanoma detection, monitoring, and immunotherapy has been less successful and is still being defined. Translational studies in many areas of melanoma are being performed to identify biomarkers and validate their clinical role. In this review, we examine the status of biomarkers in melanoma and areas of future development. The treatment landscape for advanced melanoma has been rapidly evolving. As new therapies become available, there is a need for better biomarkers to detect disease, guide patient selection, and monitor for response. The use of tumor genetics has been able to predict responses to targeted therapy in melanoma. However, the role of biomarkers in melanoma detection, monitoring, and immunotherapy has been less successful and is still being defined. Translational studies in many areas of melanoma are being performed to identify biomarkers and validate their clinical role. In this review, we examine the status of biomarkers in melanoma and areas of future development.