[Immunotherapy in malignant melanoma].
The malignant melanoma is because of its ability to form metastasis even at early stages of disease the deadliest of all skin tumors. Its incidence rises faster than that of any other human tumor. Today, treatment of melanoma is based on surgical removal, and depending on the stage, chemotherapy and/or biological response modifiers. The response and cure rates are, however, not satisfactory and there is, therefore, ongoing research for other approaches. The identification of melanoma antigenic peptides like Melan-A, gp100 and ras peptides has opened new possibilities in the treatment of malignant melanoma. The research on generating mainly T cell mediated immune responses against malignant melanoma using many different approaches like injection of dendritic cells pulsed with melanoma specific peptides, injection of in vitro with cytokines stimulated T cells, immunization with peptides in the presence of different adjuvants, immunization with genetically modified melanoma cells etc. has produced many encouraging results. However, the future of tumor-vaccine development still lies in generation of more potent vaccination protocols.
Braathen
L R
LR
Dermatologische Klinik, Universität Bern.
Hunger
R E
RE
Brand
C U
CU
D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments