Systemic treatment for a young patient with stage IV melanoma: A case report

Melanoma is a highly malignant tumor with a marked propensity for metastasis, and liver metastasis in particular is consistently associated with a poor prognosis. The current study reports the case of a 24-year-old man who presented with multiple systemic metastases 3 years after undergoing radical resection of a cutaneous melanoma. Genetic testing identified a BRAF mutation, which led to the initiation of targeted therapy using dabrafenib in combination with trametinib. After 2 months of treatment, imaging revealed a partial response in the liver metastases. However, by the fourth month, the disease progressed rapidly due to acquired resistance, causing the patient to succumb to liver failure and multiple organ dysfunction. The present case highlights the key need for vigilance, as even young patients with early-stage melanoma remain at risk of rapid disease progression. Therefore, implementing rigorous postoperative patient education and follow-up protocols is key to the early detection of recurrence and timely intervention. Simultaneously, the present case illustrates the challenge of acquired resistance to targeted therapy, underscoring the importance of developing strategies to overcome such resistance to potentially improve patient survival in the future.