Immunotherapy for melanoma

Melanoma is one of the most dangerous forms of skin cancer. Aggressive growth with a high risk of distant metastasis is the cause of the high death rate from skin melanoma worldwide. Melanoma that has metastasized beyond the lymph nodes requires more aggressive treatment. The standard treatment modalities including surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are not very effective for most patients. The aggressive nature of this disease sustains an urgent need for more effective treatment methods. Immunotherapy is currently one of the most promising approaches for fighting cancer cells. The review analyses the main immunotherapeutic approaches to melanoma treatment, including therapeutic vaccines based on tumor cells, synthetic peptides and polyepitopic immunogens. Many of these vaccines are currently being studied in various clinical trials.