Malignant melanoma

The incidence of malignant melanoma in some parts of the world continues to increase at a surprising rate. The medical profession is increasingly aware of the prognostic implications of tumour thickness, site and the potential value of early detection. Surgery for thin lesions remains overwhelmingly the most valuable therapy, and despite the very considerable endeavours of research groups around the world there is little sight of significant progress in increasing the survival of patients with more advanced disease. The reports summarised in this and previous annuals confirm the very disappointing results of cytotoxic drugs. The results referred to in this review establish that modern immunology is capable of devising much more specific immunotherapy than was tried in the early days of BCG and C. parvum; notwithstanding the considerable morbidity of some biological response modifications, it remains to be shown that the response rates achieved can provide useful extension of survival.