Novel Targets for the Treatment of Melanoma

Abstract

Purpose of review: In this article, we will briefly review the current treatment landscape for metastatic melanoma and provide a comprehensive update on emerging novel treatment strategies.

Recent findings: Over the past decade, remarkable advances in immunotherapy and targeted therapy have greatly improved outcomes for patients with advanced melanoma. Although a subset of patients is able to achieve durable responses, the majority experience eventual disease progression on existing therapies. Trials evaluating novel combinatorial strategies, checkpoint inhibitors, immune agonists, T cell-based therapies, intratumoral agents, and others are ongoing. While strides have been made in the treatment of advanced melanoma, further research is needed to identify alternative immune and molecular targets in order to overcome resistance and achieve better clinical outcomes.

Keywords: BRAF inhibitor; CTLA-4; Checkpoint inhibitors; Immunotherapy; MEK inhibitor; Melanoma; Oncolytic therapy; PD-1; PD-L1; Targeted therapy.