Radiation and Melanoma: Where Are We Now?

Abstract

Purpose of review: This review summarizes the current role of radiotherapy for the treatment of cutaneous melanoma in the definitive, adjuvant, and palliative settings, and combinations with immunotherapy and targeted therapies.

Recent findings: Definitive radiotherapy may be considered for lentigo maligna if surgery would be disfiguring. High risk, resected melanoma may be treated with adjuvant radiotherapy, but the role is poorly defined since the advent of effective systemic therapies. For patients with metastatic disease, immunotherapy and targeted therapies can be delivered safely in tandem with radiotherapy to improve outcomes. Radiotherapy and modern systemic therapies act in concert to improve outcomes, especially in the metastatic setting. Further prospective data is needed to guide the use of definitive radiotherapy for lentigo maligna and adjuvant radiotherapy for high-risk melanoma in the immunotherapy era. Current evidence does not support an abscopal response or at least identify the conditions necessary to reliably produce one with combinations of radiation and immunotherapy.

Keywords: Immunotherapy; Melanoma; Radiotherapy; Stereotactic body radiotherapy; Stereotactic radiosurgery; Targeted therapy.