Immune-checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of metastatic melanoma: a model of cancer immunotherapy

Publication date: Available online 17 August 2019Source: Seminars in Cancer BiologyAuthor(s): Paola Queirolo, Andrea Boutros, Enrica Tanda, Francesco Spagnolo, Pietro QuaglinoAbstractMelanoma has always been described as an immunogenic tumor. Despite that, until 2011 the standard of care in metastatic melanoma was chemotherapy, with low response rates and no clear impact on overall survival. Melanoma was the first cancer type to drive the use of immune-checkpoint inhibitors into clinical practice, which revolutionized the therapeutic paradigm not only in melanoma, but also in an increasing number of tumors. In this review, the preclinical bases and the main clinical studies that led to the approval of immune-checkpoint inhibitors in advanced melanoma will be described with insights on novel combinations of treatments and on prognostic and predictive biomarkers.
Source: Seminars in Cancer Biology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research