Increased activation of cell survival signaling cascades helps tumor cells grow and makes cancer cells difficult to kill. Inhibiting proteins involved in those survival pathways is a useful strategy for selectively destroying such cells. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is one such signaling cascade. Preclinical research finds that it is activated in most melanomas. One key kinase involved has become the focus of some targeted melanoma therapies. MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK), also known as MAPKK, has several known…