Dr Ronai on Key Advances in Melanoma Treatment Approaches
Source: OncLive, November 2023
Ze’ev Ronai, PhD, discusses key advancements in the treatment of patients with melanoma, including the discovery of NRAS and BRAF mutations, as well as the development of immunotherapy approaches.
Ze’ev Ronai, PhD, director, Jeanne and Gary Herberger Leadership Chair in Cancer Research, professor, Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys, discusses key advancements in the treatment of patients with melanoma, including the discovery of NRAS and BRAF mutations, as well as the development of immunotherapy approaches.
As emphasized in his presentation at the 20th International Congress of the Society for Melanoma Research, Ronai states that the identification of specific mutations, such as NRAS and BRAF, was a pivotal milestone in the field of melanoma research. NRAS mutations in particular are present in approximately half of melanoma tumors, making them an ideal target for therapeutic development, he says. Soon after their development, targeted therapies, particularly BRAF inhibitors, were incorporated into standard clinical practice, Ronai detailed.