Melanoma vaccines: achievements and perspectives

In the past decade, the characterisation of tumour antigens recognised by T cells has revolutionised the cancer-vaccine approach, providing for the first time the opportunity to immunise patients against cancer by using well-defined antigens. Because melanoma is one of the prototypic immunogenic tumours, a number of early-phase clinical trials have been conducted on melanoma. Some tumour regressions have been documented, mainly for patients with metastatic disease. Recent advances include new tools for monitoring the anti-cancer immune response and the development of adjuvants aimed at inducing a robust anti-melanoma immune response. Together, these developments should allow an optimal vaccination modality to be selected within the next few years.