Adjuvant and Neoadjuvant Therapeutics for the Treatment of Cutaneous Melanoma

Clin Plast Surg. 2021 Oct;48(4):651-658. doi: 10.1016/j.cps.2021.06.001. Epub 2021 Aug 18.

Abstract

Adjuvant therapy plays an integral role in the treatment algorithm for stage III and stage IV cutaneous melanoma. Current ongoing clinical trials are exploring the effects of neoadjuvant therapeutics, specifically for the presurgical treatment of high-risk, borderline resectable disease. In both the adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings, the early chemotherapeutic and biochemical antitumor agents are making way to newer immune therapies, mutation-specific targeted therapies, and oncolytic vaccines that are transforming the treatment of malignant melanoma. The use of these systemic therapies in addition to surgical resection has been shown to increase both overall and progression-free survival.

Keywords: Adjuvant; Cancer vaccines; Chemotherapy; Immunotherapy; Melanoma; Neoadjuvant; Targeted therapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Humans
  • Melanoma* / drug therapy
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy
  • Skin Neoplasms* / therapy