The role of vaccine therapy in the treatment of melanoma.
BACKGROUND
Melanoma is a tumour that is usually resistant to systemic therapy. Since it has been considered to be a highly immunogenic tumour, it has become an excellent target for the active specific immunotherapy. Vaccine therapy represents a novel approach to the treatment of melanoma.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate different vaccines tested in stage III and/or IV melanoma patients.


METHODS
Systematic review of the published evidence on vaccine therapy in melanoma.


RESULTS
Melanoma vaccines can be classified into six groups: whole-cell vaccines, dendritic cell vaccines, peptide vaccines, ganglioside vaccines, DNA vaccines and viral vectors. The main characteristics of these vaccines including their advantages and disadvantages and the results from conducted trials are presented. Clinical responses to melanoma vaccines are still poor and currently there is no melanoma vaccine with a proven efficacy.


CONCLUSIONS
Vaccine therapy still remains an experimental therapy in patients with metastatic melanoma. Further research is required although a future therapy for advanced melanoma is probably a multimodal approach including vaccines, adjuvants and negative co-stimulatory blockade.
Lens
Marko
M
King's College, St Thomas' Hospital, Genetic Epidemiology Unit, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7EH, UK. markolens@aol.com
D000818:Animals; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016233:Immunotherapy, Active / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control
D019496:Cancer Vaccines