New approaches to treating advanced melanoma: adjuvant treatment of high-risk primary melanoma and boron neutron capture therapy.
Malignant melanoma is associated with an excellent long-term prognosis when detected and treated at an early stage. Surgery alone is sufficient for patients with thin melanomas. Patients with thicker tumors, who are at higher risk for metastasis, may benefit from additional therapy beyond surgical removal of the tumor. Adjuvant therapies are designed to reduce the risk of melanoma recurrence. In particular, the immunotherapies, which boost the host's immune response to the cancer, are proving to be valuable adjuncts to surgery. Once melanoma has metastasized to a visceral organ, the prognosis is poor. Metastatic melanoma has a poor response to most conventional treatments. Boron neutron capture therapy is a novel approach to cancer management. It is a binary therapy combining low energy, nonionizing neutron irradiation with a stable isotope of naturally occurring boron avidly absorbed by the tumor. The combined approach currently under investigation results in highly selective tumor destruction.
Rogers
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GS
Department of Surgery (Oncology), Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Voseburg
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Wazer
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DE
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016754:Boron Neutron Capture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000628:therapy
D019496:Cancer Vaccines