Melanoma is a malignancy that is highly curable in the early stages but has 
devastating consequences in later stages due to lack of response to traditional 
treatments. Improved understanding of the basic science of tumorigenesis has 
helped lead to novel targeted therapies which are producing beneficial results 
in patients with melanoma. Enhancement of the immune system by blockade of the 
cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated antigen-4 by the monoclonal antibody 
ipilimumab is now approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration 
(FDA) for use in patients with unresectable melanoma. The approval of this drug 
was based on the first ever data in melanoma showing an improvement in overall 
survival. New advances in targeting components of the mitogen-activated protein 
kinase pathway are showing impressive responses in clinical trials in most 
patients harboring activating mutations in BRAF. Thus, this is a new era in the 
management of melanoma and we review the recent progress made in treating 
patients with advanced disease.