Immunotherapy for Melanoma

Justin T Moyers; Isabella C Glitza Oliva

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-79308-1_3

Immunotherapy for Melanoma

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2021:1342:81-111. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-79308-1_3.

Authors

Justin T Moyers^{1

2}, Isabella C Glitza Oliva³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
² Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Orange, CA, USA.
³ Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. icglitza@mdanderson.org.

PMID: 34972963
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-79308-1_3

Abstract

Melanoma is the leading cause of death from skin cancer and is responsible for over 7000 deaths in the USA each year alone. For many decades, limited treatment options were available for patients with metastatic melanoma; however, over the last decade, a new era in treatment dawned for oncologists and their patients. Targeted therapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors represents an important cornerstone in the treatment of metastatic melanoma; however, this chapter carefully reviews the past and current therapy options available, with a significant focus on immunotherapy-based approaches. In addition, we provide an overview of the results of recent advances in the adjuvant setting for patients with resected stage III and stage IV melanoma, as well as in patients with melanoma brain metastases. Finally, we provide a brief overview of the current research efforts in the field of immuno-oncology for melanoma.

Keywords: Adjuvant; Checkpoint inhibitors; Immunotherapy; Metastatic melanoma; Neoadjuvant.

MeSH terms

Humans
Immunologic Factors
Immunotherapy
Melanoma* / therapy
Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
Skin Neoplasms* / drug therapy

Substances

Immunologic Factors
Protein Kinase Inhibitors