title: Role of radiation therapy in melanomas: Systematic review and best practice in 2016.
abstract: Radiotherapy has been used for skin cancers since early after the discovery of X-rays. The introduction of sophisticated surgery techniques and information of the general population on potential late radiation-induced toxicity and carcinogenesis have led to limiting indications in the dermatologist community. However, radiotherapy (RT) has undergone considerable developments, essentially including technological advances, to sculpt radiation delivery, with demonstration of the benefit either alone or after adding concomitant cytotoxic agents or targeted therapies. Although side effects due to high doses and/or the use of old RT techniques have been significantly decreased, the risk of atrophic scars, ulcerations or secondary cancers persist. In this systematic review, we aim to discuss indications for RT in melanomas with focus on new advances that may lead to rehabilitating this treatment option according to the tumor radiosensitivity and clinical benefit/risk ratio. Melanomas have been considered as radioresistant tumors for many years.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department of Henri Mondor University Hospital and University Paris-Est Creteil (UPEC), Créteil, France.
authors.forename: Magali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fort
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department of Henri Mondor University Hospital and University Paris-Est Creteil (UPEC), Créteil, France.
authors.forename: Saada
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guet
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department of Henri Mondor University Hospital and University Paris-Est Creteil (UPEC), Créteil, France.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Husheng
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department of Henri Mondor University Hospital and University Paris-Est Creteil (UPEC), Créteil, France; Henri Mondor Breast Center and University of Paris-Est Creteil (UPEC), Créteil, France.
authors.forename: Elie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Calitchi
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department of Henri Mondor University Hospital and University Paris-Est Creteil (UPEC), Créteil, France; Henri Mondor Breast Center and University of Paris-Est Creteil (UPEC), Créteil, France. Electronic address: yazid.belkacemi@aphp.fr.
authors.forename: Yazid
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Belkacemi
mesh_terms: D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Chemoradiation; Chemotherapy; Melanoma; Preoperative; Radiosensitivity; Radiotherapy; Targeted therapies