The role of radiotherapy in the overall treatment of melanoma

Clin Dermatol. 2013 May-Jun;31(3):282-9. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2012.08.009.

Abstract

Radiotherapy has become an effective treatment in the management of melanoma patients. It has its place beneath surgical treatment options in a tumor entity that has only limited response to systemic medical therapies. New therapies, such as ipilimumab and vemurafenib, may prolong survival for several months but will cure only a few patients. Radiotherapy will still be required in adjuvant settings to reduce the local recurrence rate and in palliative situations, particularly in brain and bone metastasis. We review several indications for radiotherapy in the management of malignant melanoma with an effect on the guidelines in our clinical practice.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Bone Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Bone Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Brain Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Combined Modality Therapy / methods
  • Humans
  • Indoles / therapeutic use
  • Ipilimumab
  • Melanoma / drug therapy
  • Melanoma / radiotherapy*
  • Recurrence
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Skin Neoplasms / radiotherapy*
  • Sulfonamides / therapeutic use
  • Survival Rate
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vemurafenib

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Indoles
  • Ipilimumab
  • Sulfonamides
  • Vemurafenib