Emerging Clinical Issues in Melanoma in the Molecularly Targeted Era

The standard of care of patients with malignant melanoma is dramatically changing, hallmarked by the approval of three new agents for the treatment of malignant melanoma in 2011. In this changing therapeutic landscape, several clinical issues are emerging which will best be addressed through the application of advances in molecular analytics, diagnostics, and therapeutics. It is expected that dedicated and coordinated efforts in basic, translational, and clinical will be responsible for the next major breakthroughs in the care of patients with this dreaded disease. In this chapter, five critical, emerging clinical issues are presented with descriptions of approaches that might be expected to help solve these challenges to optimal patient care.