Update on Current Phase III Clinical Trials in Melanoma

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and responsible for 4% of all cancer deaths and 86% of skin cancer-related deaths in the United States (Losina et al., 2007). Melanoma is caused by malignant growth of the melanocytes, which are melanin-producing cells found in the skin’s epidermis, hair, and eyes. In melanoma, these cells undergo an uncontrollable cell growth that manifests in the skin, the nail bed, and sometimes although rarely in the eyes and mucous membrane (Garbe et al., 2010). Melanomas can be classified clinically into four major classes (Table 1). Most melanomas are superficially spreading malignant melanoma. Rare melanomas include amelanotic melanoma, splitzoid melanoma, desmoplastic melanoma, malignant blue nevus, ocular melanoma, and mucosa melanoma. Melanomas usually have an initial radial growth phase followed by a vertical growth phase. The radial growth is mostly intraepidermal, and is considered preinvasive or minimally invasive. In contrast, the vertical growth is invasion