PMC

Common types of BRAF mutations in melanoma ().

The MAPK pathway activation in melanoma. Oncogenic NRAS, BRAF, GNAQ and CKIT signal through the MAPK pathway. Oncogenic NRAS also induces the phosphatidylinositol-3′ kinase (PI3K) cascade. MAPK signalling can lead to proliferation in transformed cells, but also induces a potent form of growth arrest, known as senescence in normal melanocytes. The approximate proportion of melanomas with mutations are shown. GPCR=G-protein coupled receptor.