Melanoma is a type of cancer that begins in the cells that produce pigment in the skin. It can also occur in the eyes and, more rarely, in other parts of the body that have pigment-producing cells, such as the intestines.

Melanoma is less common than other types of skin cancer, but it is more likely to spread to other parts of the body if not caught early.

What is Immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy, also known as biological therapy, is a type of cancer treatment that uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer.

It does this by either stimulating the immune system to attack cancer cells or by using man-made immune system proteins to help the body fight cancer.

How Does Immunotherapy Work?

Immunotherapy works by harnessing the power of the body’s immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. It does this in a variety of ways, including:.

• Boosting the immune system’s response to cancer cells
• Stopping cancer cells from hiding from the immune system
• Marking cancer cells so the immune system can more easily find and destroy them
• Providing the immune system with man-made immune system proteins to help fight cancer cells

Types of Immunotherapy

There are several types of immunotherapy, including:.

• Checkpoint inhibitors – These drugs target the checkpoints that cancer cells use to hide from the immune system.
• CAR T-cell therapy – In CAR T-cell therapy, T-cells (a type of immune system cell) are taken from a patient’s blood and genetically modified to better target cancer cells. They are then infused back into the patient’s body to fight the cancer.
• Cytokines – These proteins help boost the immune system’s response to cancer cells.
• Cancer vaccines – These vaccines help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.

Melanoma Treatment

Melanoma treatment depends on the stage and location of the cancer. The main treatment options include:.

• Surgery – This is the primary treatment for early-stage melanoma. It involves removing the cancerous skin cells and surrounding tissue. In some cases, lymph nodes may also be removed.
• Radiation therapy – This may be used after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells or to treat melanoma that has spread to other parts of the body.
• Chemotherapy – This may be used to treat melanoma that has spread to other parts of the body. It involves using drugs to kill cancer cells.
• Immunotherapy – This is a newer type of treatment that is growing in popularity. It uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer.

Combining Immunotherapy and Melanoma Treatment

While immunotherapy is a promising new treatment option for melanoma, it is not always effective on its own. However, when used in combination with other treatments, such as surgery or radiation therapy, it can be much more effective.

Combining immunotherapy with other treatments can also help to reduce the risk of melanoma recurrence. This is because immunotherapy can help to clear any remaining cancer cells that were not removed by surgery or radiation therapy.

Related Article The intersection of immunotherapy and melanoma

One example of a combination treatment regime for melanoma is pembrolizumab (Keytruda), a checkpoint inhibitor, and ipilimumab (Yervoy), another type of immunotherapy.

This combination has been shown to be more effective than either drug on its own in treating advanced melanoma.

Benefits and Side Effects of Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy has significant benefits over other types of cancer treatment. It has been shown to be effective in treating a wide range of cancers, including melanoma.

In addition, it often has fewer side effects than other treatments, such as chemotherapy.

However, immunotherapy can also cause side effects, the most common of which are fatigue, rash, and diarrhea. In some cases, it can cause more serious side effects, such as inflammation of the lungs or kidneys.

It is important for patients and their doctors to carefully weigh the benefits and risks of immunotherapy before deciding on a treatment plan.

Conclusion

Melanoma is a serious form of cancer that can be difficult to treat. However, with the advent of immunotherapy, there is hope for patients with advanced melanoma.

When used in combination with other treatments, such as surgery or radiation therapy, immunotherapy can be even more effective in treating melanoma. It is important for patients to speak with their doctors about all available treatment options and weigh the benefits and risks of each before deciding on a treatment plan.