Immune alterations in malignant melanoma and current immunotherapy concepts.
BACKGROUND
Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive, immunogenic tumor that has the ability to modulate the immune system to its own advantage. Patients with melanoma present numerous cellular immune defects and cytokine abnormalities, all leading to suppression of the host anti-tumor immune response. Innovative treatment strategies can be achieved through employing our knowledge of the melanoma-induced immune alterations.


METHODS
The authors review comprehensively the immune abnormalities in individuals with melanoma, and provide a summary of currently available melanoma immunotherapy agents that are currently on the market or undergoing clinical trials.


CONCLUSIONS
Ipilimumab, a monoclonal antibody directed against the CTLA-4, is one of the current forefront treatment strategies in malignant melanoma. Novel immunomodulating agents have shown clear activity in patients with malignant melanoma. These include anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-1 ligand antibodies that may soon become important items in the anti-melanoma armamentarium. Combinations of different immunotherapy agents, between themselves or with other agents, are currently being studied in an attempt to further enhance the antineoplastic effect in patients with malignant melanoma.
University of Connecticut Health Science Center, Department of Medicine , Farmington, 21 Temple Street # 501, Hartford, CT 06103 , USA shimanovsky@resident.uchc.edu.
Alexei
A
Shimanovsky
Ashif
A
Jethava
Constantin A
CA
Dasanu
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents