Preface

Malignant melanoma is the most aggressive skin cancer. Despite this, significant progress has been achieved for patients with unresectable or advanced melanoma. The introduction of targeted therapy and, most recently, immune checkpoint blockades have revolutionized melanoma treatment, increasing patient rates of survival even in advanced disease. However, many melanoma patients are not benefiting from current therapies. The major obstacle to therapeutic success is drug resistance. The mechanisms of therapeutic resistance are under intense investigation and novel therapeutic strategies based on combining targeted therapy and immunotherapy are emerging. Many clinical trials of the combination of BRAF inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors are very promising. We believe there is a brighter future for therapeutic options for malignant melanoma.

This book explores the advances and challenges associated with melanoma, including its diagnosis and management, and proposes new avenues for therapeutic opportunities, based on sustained research efforts and ever-growing technological advances.

The publication of this book was made possible by coordinated efforts and collaborations from many experts and outstanding researchers on melanoma. We thank all the contributors for their valuable studies and their wonderful efforts.

We are confident that this book provides important insights into melanoma treatment, the emergence of therapeutic resistance, and novel therapeutic strategies. We believe it will contribute to bringing answers and hope for healthcare providers, clinicians, and scientists as well as patients and their loved ones.

#### **Dr. Ahmed Lasfar**

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States

> Rutgers-Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States

#### **Dr. Karine Cohen Solal**

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States

**1**

Section 1

Types and Categories

of Melanoma
