KIT as a Therapeutic Target in Metastatic Melanoma

Abstract

Melanoma causes the greatest morbidity and mortality of all skin cancers.¹ An estimated 68 130 invasive melanomas were diagnosed and 8700 deaths due to metastatic disease were recorded in the United States in 2010.² Dacarbazine,³ interleukin 2,⁴ and ipilimumab are approved for the treatment of metastatic melanoma by the US Food and Drug Administration. Only ipilimumab has been shown to improve overall survival.^3-5