Immunotherapy in the adjuvant treatment of malignant melanoma in patients with the highest risk of metastases

01/2021

MUDr. Adam Wendrinski

Komplexní onkologické centrum, Nemocnice Nový Jičín

SUMMARY

Adjuvant treatment of malignant melanoma developed significantly in recent 20 years. Twenty years ago, just interferon-based therapy was available in adjuvant treatment of malignant melanoma. Recently, due to beginning of anti-programmed death-1(anti-PD-1) therapy era is this therapy significant benefit for patient suffering malignant melanoma. In 2015 CHECKMATE 238 trial was published proving efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy in adjuvant setting. Later, another trial - KEYNOTE 054 trial was published, confirming efficacy of pembrolizumab in adjuvant setting. Recently, we can use anti-PD-1 therapy in adjuvant treatment of malignant melanoma routinely. The most significant advantage of anti-PD-1 therapy is efficacy and safety with small rate of serious adverse effects. But we should mind, even the rate of serious adverse event is low, the risk of serious complications is still present. In this reason should be used in patients which would have benefit from this treatment.

Key words

immunotherapy, adjuvant therapy, malignant melanoma, checkpoint inhibitors