Treatment of Metastatic Melanoma in the Elderly

Abstract

Purpose of review: This study aims to review the clinical experience of melanoma treatments in patients with advanced age.

Recent findings: During the last decade, the treatment paradigm for melanoma has changed dramatically with the use of checkpoint inhibitors, oncolytic viruses, and targeted therapies. We reviewed both the clinical trial and real-world experience of these therapies in patients of advanced age, and discuss how a personalized approach should be taken for these patients with consideration of incidence and management of side effects. Although special consideration should be taken, immunotherapy, oncolytic viruses, and targeted therapy have shown efficacy and tolerability in older patients with melanoma.

Keywords: Checkpoint inhibitors; Elderly; Immunotherapy; Melanoma; Oncolytic virus; Targeted therapy.