Advances in Adjuvant and Neoadjuvant Therapy for Melanoma

Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2024 Oct;38(5):953-971. doi: 10.1016/j.hoc.2024.05.007. Epub 2024 Jul 26.

Abstract

Melanoma remains one of the most common cancers diagnosed in the United States, yet there have been substantial advancements in the treatment of resectable disease. Adjuvant therapy with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and targeted therapy with BRAF/MEK inhibitors (BRAF/MEKi) have now become standard of care for resectable stage IIIB-IV melanoma. In this article, the authors discuss recent scientific developments pertinent to the treatment of resectable melanoma including ICB, targeted therapy with BRAF/MEKi, oncolytic viruses, tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy, and cancer vaccines.

Keywords: Adjuvant therapy; BRAF/MEK inhibitors; Cancer vaccines; Immune checkpoint blockade; Melanoma; Neoadjuvant therapy; Talimogene laherparepvec; Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cancer Vaccines / therapeutic use
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Immunotherapy / methods
  • Melanoma* / pathology
  • Melanoma* / therapy
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy / methods
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy* / methods
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors