Onkológia 1/2023

The role of immunotherapy in the treatment of unresectable and metastatic malignant melanoma

Cutaneous melanoma remains the most lethal of the primary cutaneous neoplasms. The incidence of primary melanoma continues to rise, but mortality from metastatic disease has changed significantly due to advances in treatment. Activation of the immune system is a very important step in the treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma. Understanding the functions of immune checkpoints has led to the development of checkpoint inhibitors. Immunotherapy is one of the most efficient therapeutic strategies in melanoma because of the high immunogenicity of this tumor. The mechanisms of action of immunotherapy are focused on specific targets of the counter-regulatory mechanisms of the immune response. However, immunotherapy is also associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs) that represent tissue-specific dysimmune inflammatory responses.

Keywords: immunotherapy, malignant melanoma, pembrolizumab, nivolumab