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Review
. 2025 Apr 3;11(1):23.
doi: 10.1038/s41572-025-00603-8.

Cutaneous melanoma

Alpaslan Tasdogan  1   2 , Ryan J Sullivan  3 , Alexander Katalinic  4 , Celeste Lebbe  5 , Dagmar Whitaker  6 , Susana Puig  7   8 , Lonneke V van de Poll-Franse  9   10 , Daniela Massi  11   12 , Dirk Schadendorf  13   14
Affiliations
Review

Cutaneous melanoma

Alpaslan Tasdogan et al. Nat Rev Dis Primers. .

Abstract

Cutaneous melanoma is a common cancer in Australia and New Zealand, Europe, and North America, and its incidence is still increasing in many regions. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure (for example, through excessive sunlight exposure) remains the primary risk factor for melanoma; however, public awareness campaigns have led to a marked reduction in mortality. In addition to genetic damage from UV radiation, specific genetic alterations have been linked to melanoma. The stage of the tumour at the time of diagnosis is of greater importance for melanoma prognosis than in almost any other cancer. Context-dependent genetic mutations that attenuate tumour-suppressive mechanisms or activate growth-promoting signalling pathways are crucial factors in the development of cutaneous melanoma. In addition to external factors such as UV radiation, the tumour microenvironment can contribute to melanoma progression, invasion and metastasis. Cutaneous melanoma treatment has improved considerably over the past decade with the discovery and development of immune checkpoint inhibitors and therapy targeting BRAF and MEK. Over the next decade, several priorities are likely to influence melanoma research and management, including the continued advance of precision medicine methods to identify the most suitable patients for the most effective treatment, with the aim of improving clinical outcomes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: A.T. declares speakers’ honoraria from Merck Sharp & Dohme. R.J.S. declares personal fees from Marengo, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer and Replimune for consulting/advisory board activity, and research grant support to his institution from Merck. C.L. declares conflicts of interest with BMS, Pierre Fabre, Sanofi, Novartis, MSD, Amgen, Merck Serono, Roche, Inflax and Pfizer. S.P. declares research grants from Almirall, Pfizer, Regeneron, Sanofi, La Roche Posay Philogen, ISDIN and International School of Derma; consulting fees from Sanofi, Regeneron, ISDIN, L’Oreal, La Roche Posay and International School of Derma; personal fees from Sanofi, Sunpharma, Cantabria, Eucerin, ISDIN, L’Oreal, La Roche Posay, Almirall, Avene and Pierre Fabre; and support for attending meetings and/or travel from Almirall, Cantabria and ISDIN. D.M. declares personal fees from Novartis, Sun Pharma, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc., Pierre-Fabre Oncology, Sanofi Genzyme, MSD Italia S.r.l., Roche and Skyline Dx B.V, and Sakura; and a grant from Regeneron. D.S. reports personal fees and non-financial support from Roche/Genentech, Merck Serono, Sanofi/Regeneron, SunPharma, Neracare, Replimune, Helsinn, OncoSec and InFlaRx; grants, personal fees and non-financial support from Amgen and Novartis; grants, personal fees, non-financial and other support from BMS; and personal fees from Merck Sharp & Dohme, Immunocore, Incyte, 4SC, Pierre Fabre, Array BioPharma, Pfizer, Philogen, Regeneron, Nektar and Sandoz; outside the submitted work. A.K., D.W. and L.V.v.d.P.-F. declare no competing interests.

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