Advances in melanoma immunotherapy (original) (raw)

Melanoma is considered to be the most immunogenic malignant tumour. This fact is recognized for many years, and certain forms of immunotherapy have been used in melanoma therapy for a considerable time. Treatment options for patients with metastatic melanoma have changed dramatically in the past 5 years, with the FDA approval of eight new therapeutic agents (immunotherapies and targeted therapies). During this period, melanoma immunotherapy has transitioned from cytokine-based treatment to antibody-mediated blockade of the cytotoxic Tlymphocyteassociated antigen4 (CTLA4) and, recently, the programmed cell-death protein 1 (PD1) immune checkpoints. These changes in the treatment options have dramatically improved patient outcomes, with the median overall survival of patients with metastatic melanoma increasing from approximately 9 months before 2011 to at least 2 years, and probably longer. Various types of immunotherapy, like pembrolizumab, nivolumab, ipilimumab, combined therapy wit...