Radiotherapy for cutaneous melanoma: current and future applications

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiation Oncology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Cutaneous malignant melanoma poses a global health challenge.
• Melanoma's historical radioresistance has limited radiation therapy (RT) use.
• Current RT indications include high-risk nodal disease and palliative care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current applications of RT in melanoma management.
• To explore the expanding role of RT in oligometastatic melanoma.
• To highlight future potential of RT combined with immunomodulatory therapies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current and emerging RT applications in melanoma.
• Analysis of RT efficacy in various melanoma disease stages.
• Exploration of synergistic potential between RT and targeted immunotherapies.

Main Results:

• RT has limited use in primary melanoma but is valuable for nodal disease and palliation.
• RT is emerging as an alternative to surgery for oligometastatic melanoma.
• Combinatorial approaches with RT and immunotherapy show future promise.

Conclusions:

• RT's role in melanoma is expanding beyond traditional palliative and nodal indications.
• RT offers a viable alternative to surgery in select oligometastatic cases.
• Future research should focus on integrating RT with novel immunomodulatory treatments.