title: [Therapy of malignant melanoma. First-, second- and pathogenesis-oriented third-line therapies].
abstract: The incidence of malignant melanoma is steadily increasing worldwide. The most crucial requirement to cure the disease is early detection of thin primary tumors. At the stage of distant metastases, the treatment options are predominantly palliative. Resection of localized metastases is currently the most effective approach. Dacarbazine is considered as standard chemotherapy for inoperable metastatic disease showing remission rates of 5-20% without any noteworthy effect on overall survival. Quite recently, a large spectrum of innovative treatment approaches have been developed from an increasing insight into tumor biology. Along with improved vaccination strategies, targeted therapies have attracted the most attention in the treatment of advanced melanoma. Those anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenic and proapoptotic agents are directed against pathogenetically important pathways of the tumor cell. First clinical experiences are encouraging, but results from controlled trials have to be awaited.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, 66421 Homburg. hakras@uniklinik-saarland.de
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rass
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tadler
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tilgen
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D019496:Cancer Vaccines