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Updated: Jun 18, 2025
A 3D Organotypic Melanoma Spheroid Skin Model
Published on: May 18, 2018
Advancements in Melanoma Therapies: From Surgery to Immunotherapy
Neda Shajari1,2, Behzad Baradaran3,4, Mohammad Reza Tohidkia5
1Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Opinion Statement:
Melanoma is defined as the most aggressive and deadly form of skin cancer. The treatment of melanoma depends on the disease stage, tumor location, and extent of its spread from its point of origin. Melanoma treatment has made significant advances, notably in the context of targeted and immunotherapies. Surgical resection is the main therapeutic option for earlystage melanoma, and it provides favourable outcomes. With disease metastasis, systemic treatments such as immunotherapy and targeted therapy become increasingly important. The identification of mutations that lead to melanoma has influenced treatment strategies. Targeted therapies focusing on these mutations offer improved response rates and fewer toxicities than conventional chemotherapy. Furthermore, developing immunotherapies, including checkpoint inhibitors and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapies, has demonstrated encouraging outcomes in effectively combating cancer cells. These therapeutic agents demonstrate superior effectiveness and a more tolerable side-effect profile, improving the quality of life for patients receiving treatment. The future of melanoma treatment may involve a multimodal approach consisting of a combination of surgery, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy adapted to each patient's profile. This approach may improve survival rates and health outcomes.
Insights
Melanoma treatment advances include targeted therapies and immunotherapies, offering better outcomes. Future strategies may combine surgery, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy for improved patient survival.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Dermatology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer with treatment varying by stage and spread.
- Early-stage melanoma is typically treated with surgical resection.
- Metastatic melanoma necessitates systemic treatments like immunotherapy and targeted therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current and future treatment strategies for melanoma.
- To highlight advances in targeted and immunotherapies for melanoma.
- To discuss the potential of multimodal treatment approaches.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on melanoma treatment modalities.
- Analysis of the impact of genetic mutations on treatment selection.
- Evaluation of targeted therapies and immunotherapies, including checkpoint inhibitors and TIL therapies.
Main Results:
- Targeted therapies, based on identified mutations, show improved response rates and reduced toxicity compared to chemotherapy.
- Immunotherapies, such as checkpoint inhibitors and TIL therapies, demonstrate significant efficacy against melanoma cells.
- These advanced treatments offer a better side-effect profile, enhancing patient quality of life.
Conclusions:
- Surgical resection remains key for early-stage melanoma.
- Systemic therapies, particularly targeted and immunotherapies, are crucial for metastatic disease.
- A future multimodal approach combining surgery, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, tailored to individual patient profiles, holds promise for improving survival rates and outcomes.
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