The genetic and epigenetic basis of distinct melanoma types

Melanoma represents the deadliest skin cancer. Recent therapeutic developments, including targeted and immune therapies have revolutionized clinical management and improved patient outcome. This progress was achieved by rigorous molecular and functional studies followed by robust clinical trials. The identification of key genomic alterations and gene expression profiles have propelled the understanding of distinct characteristics within melanoma subtypes. The aim of this review is to summarize and highlight the main genetic and epigenetic findings of melanomas and highlight their pathological and therapeutic importance.