Melanoma is a malignant tumor that develops from the cells that produce pigment in the skin, mucous membranes, and eyes. This cancer can be deadly if it’s not detected early and treated quickly.

Fortunately, there have been many new advances in drugs and immunotherapy that have been shown to be effective in fighting this disease.

What is Melanoma?

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that appears as a dark mole or a patch of skin that has an irregular shape and color. It can also appear as a new mole that appears suddenly on the skin.

It can be found on any area of the body at any age but are most commonly found on the arms, legs, face, and back.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer. It works by stimulating the immune system to attack the cancer cells. There are several types of immunotherapy that are used to treat melanoma.

Checkpoint Inhibitors

Checkpoint inhibitors are drugs that encourage the immune system to attack cancer cells by blocking the signals that cancer cells use to avoid detection. The drugs are used to treat melanoma that has spread to other parts of the body.

The most commonly used checkpoint inhibitors for melanoma include Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and Nivolumab (Opdivo).

Interleukin-2 (IL-2)

Interleukin-2 is a protein that stimulates the growth of immune cells that fight cancer. It is used to treat advanced melanoma that has not responded to other treatments.

The drug is given intravenously and can cause severe side effects, including fever, chills, and difficulty breathing.

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that targets specific genes, proteins, or other molecules that are involved in the growth and survival of cancer cells.

There are several targeted therapy drugs that are used to treat melanoma, including Dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and Trametinib (Mekinist).

Combination Therapy

Combination therapy is a type of cancer treatment that combines two or more treatments to improve the effectiveness of the therapy. In melanoma treatment, combination therapy is used to treat advanced melanoma that has spread to other parts of the body.

The most common combination therapy used to treat melanoma is immunotherapy and targeted therapy.

Conclusion

Melanoma can be a deadly disease if it’s not detected early and treated quickly. Fortunately, there have been many new advances in drugs and immunotherapy that have been shown to be effective in fighting this disease.

Immunotherapy, targeted therapy, checkpoint inhibitors, and combination therapy are all options that can be used to treat advanced melanoma. If you suspect you have melanoma or have been diagnosed with the disease, it’s important to talk to your doctor about the best options for treatment.