Melanoma and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Prognosis of patients with advanced melanoma is dismal with a median overall survival of about 8 months and 5-year overall survival from a diagnosis of metastatic disease of roughly 10%. However, immune checkpoint inhibitors have brought indispensable benefits to melanoma patients. Here we will review the recent clinical efficacy and adverse events of immune checkpoint inhibitors for melanoma patients.

The immune checkpoint inhibitors increase confirmed objective response and prolong progression-free and overall survival of the afflicted patients in association with maintaining their quality of life. Although diverse immune-related adverse events occur, most of them are manageable by appropriate immunomodulating agents. Clinical efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors continues even after discontinuation of drugs. Compared with conventional therapeutic options, the immune checkpoint inhibitors appear to prolong the survival of patients with advanced melanoma. Further clinical trials are warranted to determine whether their combinatory use with other treatment options may augment benefits or not.