Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the regulation and function of the Wnt/?-catenin signaling pathway and the ERK signaling pathway. The disclosure provides methods of treatment for melanoma by administering both an inhibitor of ERK signaling and an activator of Wnt/?-catenin signaling. These methods may be used alone or in combination with other strategies targeting melanoma cell survival. The disclosure also provides diagnostic methods for predicting a patient's clinical response to inhibitors of ERK signaling.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of determining the prospects for survival of a melanoma patient. This method involves providing a biological sample from a patient diagnosed with melanoma, determining the level of an indicator of Wnt/?-catenin activation in the sample, comparing the level of the indicator of Wnt/?-catenin activation in the sample against a standard level of the indicator of Wnt/?-catenin activation correlated to survival of melanoma, and determining a patient's prospects for survival of melanoma based on the comparison. The present invention also relates to a method of improving survival of melanoma patients, decreasing metastases in melanoma patients, decreasing proliferation of cancer cells in melanoma patients, decreasing melanoma recurrence in melanoma patients, and/or decreasing tumor size in melanoma patients. This involves selecting melanoma patients and subsequently determining and monitoring therapy based on their level of Wnt/?-catenin activation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a composition comprising a modulator of the Wnt/?-catenin pathway or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an N-cinnamyl-N?-benzhydryl piperazine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The present invention is also directed to a method of treating a neoplastic condition in a subject by administering the modulator of the Wnt/?catenin pathway or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an N-cinnamyl-N?-benzhydryl piperazine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to the subject under conditions effective to treat a neoplastic disorder.