Melanoma is one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, it is estimated that there will be over 100,000 new cases of melanoma in the United States in 2021.
However, there are some promising new treatments that are showing significant results in the fight against this disease. Here are some of the latest advances in melanoma treatment:.
1. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a type of immunotherapy that work by blocking the signals that cancer cells use to evade the immune system. These drugs have shown great promise in treating melanoma, with some patients experiencing long-term remission.
One of the most effective immune checkpoint inhibitors is pembrolizumab, which targets the PD-1 checkpoint. Clinical trials have shown that approximately 40% of patients with advanced melanoma experienced a response to pembrolizumab.
2. Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy is a form of treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack specific cancer cells. These drugs work by targeting specific genes or proteins that are involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells.
BRAF inhibitors are a type of targeted therapy that are effective in patients with mutations in the BRAF gene. Vemurafenib and dabrafenib are two examples of BRAF inhibitors that have shown significant results in treating melanoma.
However, these drugs are not effective in all patients and can cause side effects, such as skin rash and fever.
3. Combination Therapy
Combination therapy involves using two or more types of treatments together to increase their effectiveness. Studies have shown that combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with targeted therapy can have a synergistic effect in treating melanoma.
For example, a phase II clinical trial found that combining the immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab with the BRAF inhibitor ipilimumab led to improved response rates and progression-free survival in patients with advanced melanoma.
4. Adjuvant Therapy
Adjuvant therapy is a type of treatment that is given after the primary treatment (such as surgery) to prevent the cancer from coming back.
In melanoma, adjuvant therapy typically involves giving immune checkpoint inhibitors or targeted therapy to patients who are at high risk of recurrence.
A recent study found that giving the immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab as adjuvant therapy to patients with stage III melanoma led to significantly improved recurrence-free survival rates compared to placebo.
5. Personalized Medicine
Personalized medicine involves tailoring treatments to the specific genetic characteristics of individual patients.
In melanoma, personalized medicine involves analyzing the DNA of the tumor to identify specific mutations that can be targeted with drugs.
One example of personalized medicine in melanoma is the use of the drug vemurafenib in patients with the BRAF V600E mutation.
This mutation is present in approximately 50% of melanoma cases and can be targeted with vemurafenib, leading to improved outcomes for these patients.
6. Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs)
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are immune cells that have migrated into the tumor and are actively attacking the cancer cells.
In some patients with melanoma, TILs can be extracted from the tumor, multiplied in the laboratory, and then reinfused back into the patient, where they can continue to attack the cancer cells.
A recent study found that using TILs in combination with high-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) led to long-term, durable responses in patients with advanced melanoma.
However, this approach is currently only available in specialized treatment centers and is not widely available.
7. Adoptive T-Cell Therapy
Adoptive T-cell therapy involves removing immune cells (T-cells) from the patient’s blood, genetically engineering them to recognize and attack cancer cells, and then reinfusing them back into the patient.
This approach has shown promise in treating certain types of cancer, including melanoma.
A recent study found that using adoptive T-cell therapy in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors led to improved response rates and prolonged survival in patients with advanced melanoma.
8. Oncolytic Viruses
Oncolytic viruses are a type of virus that selectively infect and kill cancer cells. In melanoma, oncolytic viruses are being investigated as a potential treatment option.
A recent study found that using a combination of oncolytic viruses and immune checkpoint inhibitors led to improved response rates and prolonged survival in patients with advanced melanoma.
9. Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy involves using high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. In melanoma, radiotherapy is typically used as an adjuvant therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence after surgery.
A recent study found that giving radiotherapy in combination with pembrolizumab led to improved response rates and prolonged survival in patients with advanced melanoma.
10. Novel Therapies
There are a number of novel therapies currently being investigated for the treatment of melanoma. These include:.
- Small molecule inhibitors of the protein Wnt, which is involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells
- CAR T-cell therapy, which involves genetically engineering immune cells to recognize and attack cancer cells
- Vaccines that stimulate the immune system to attack cancer cells
While these therapies are still in the early stages of development, they hold promise as potential treatments for melanoma in the future.
Conclusion
Melanoma is a deadly form of skin cancer, but there are some promising new treatments that are showing significant results in the fight against this disease.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors, targeted therapy, combination therapy, adjuvant therapy, personalized medicine, TILs, adoptive T-cell therapy, oncolytic viruses, radiotherapy, and novel therapies are all options that may be effective in treating melanoma. While there is still much research to be done, these advances offer hope for patients with this devastating disease.
