BRAF and melanoma: Since preclinical studies indicate that BRAF inhibitors are ineffective in melanomas lacking BRAF mutations and may even enhance growth (Hatzivassiliou et al., 2012), advanced clinical trials of vemurafenib and other BRAF inhibitors are being carried out specifically in patients whose melanomas contain BRAF mutations (Solit et al., 2006; Flaherty et al., 2010).