TITLE:
Melanoma Immunotherapy: Overcoming Obstacles to Augment Anti-Tumor Immune Responses
AUTHORS:
Kristian M. Hargadon
KEYWORDS:
Melanoma; Tumor Immunotherapy; Dendritic Cell; Tumor Antigen; T Cell; Vaccine; Adoptive Transfer
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications,
Vol.3 No.2A,
June
20,
2013
ABSTRACT: Melanoma is the most aggressive form
of skin cancer and accounts for the vast majority of skin cancer-related
deaths. Its ability to metastasize quickly, often before diagnosis, makes this
cancer difficult to treat with traditional therapies. The identification of
anti-melanoma immune responses in patients and the discovery of tumor antigens
targeted by these immune responses have paved the way for immunotherapy as a
novel approach to treating this cancer. In this review, the major
immunotherapies targeting these melanoma tumor antigens are discussed. The
advantages and limitations of peptide-, protein-, and gene-based vaccination
maneuvers and adoptive cell transfer therapies are emphasized. Recent insights
into melanoma immune evasion strategies are also highlighted, with particular
focus on how our increasing knowledge of tumor/immune cell interactions is
driving the development of novel immunotherapeutic strategies for the treatment
of melanoma.