(Epi)genetic profiling of cutaneous melanoma: diagnostic, prognostic, and biological relevance

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. Due to the fast-growing number of patients suffering from this disease, melanoma is an ever-increasing health problem. Although current clinical evaluation of melanoma is mainly based on histopathology, there is still room for improvement in making the diagnosis and predicting the course of disease. This dissertation has assessed molecular changes in the DNA of melanoma, resulting in an improved understanding of melanoma biology. Furthermore, new biomarkers have been identified helping doctors make the correct diagnosis and predict the course of disease. These new markers can contribute to the determination of the optimal treatment of melanoma patients.