RESEARCH update
Melanoma Subtypes Can Personalize Treatment
The Melanoma Moon Shot™ team, as part of the The Cancer Genome Atlas,
have participated in an international study to identify melanoma
subtypes. Prior to this study, Melanoma often defied traditional
genetic classification because the vast number of mutations made it
difficult to determine which were driving the cancer. However, after a
five-year study involving more than 300 researchers and rigorous
analysis of samples from 331 patients, researchers were able to
identify four subtypes: BRAF, RAS, NF1 and Triple-WT (wild
type).
Knowing how to genetically define melanoma can
lead to more effective personalized medicines. It can also help
clinicians develop more accurate prognostic and predictive patient
care models.
The other exciting discovery generated by
this study was the finding that within each Melanoma subtype, there
was a subset that demonstrated immune infiltration. Such activity
correlates with improved survival. This information can prove useful
in the emerging field of immunotherapy, which has shown success in
treating some late-stage Melanoma patients.