Integration of radiation therapy and immunotherapy in melanoma management

July 9, 2016

Abstract

Melanoma has long been considered an “immunologic” malignancy because of numerous reports of spontaneous regression as well as abscopal phenomena along with its relative responsiveness to cancer immunotherapy. Over the past few years, there has been a resurgence of interest in cancer immunotherapy with particular focus on melanoma. Many new immunotherapeutic interventions have arisen, some with notable clinical efficacy. One such example is the current generation of checkpoint inhibitors. 

In this article, we shall review the recent data on checkpoint inhibition in melanoma along with a brief review of other immunotherapeutic approaches, including the encouraging and expanding role of radiation therapy in integrated immunotherapy.

Source:

Stang, K, et al. The integration of radiation therapy and immunotherapy in melanoma management.  Journal of Radiation Oncology June 2016, Volume 5, Issue 2, pp 131-142.  First online: 06 May 2016 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs13566-016-0256-5#/close