Melanoma vaccines

The incidence of malignant melanoma is increasing faster than that of any other malignancy in the United States, and therefore this disease represents a significant health threat now and in the future. The impact of conventional systemic therapy for metastatic melanoma is minimal, with best response rates for conventional therapy nearing only 30% and cure rates well below 10%. This justifies the development of immunotherapy as a new treatment modality for patients with melanoma. This review summarizes the most recent findings and the newest approaches in the design of vaccines for melanoma. The antigens associated with melanoma and their uses in the vaccine development are described. Possible clinical applications of the new vaccines for melanoma and future directions for their development are also discussed.