Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC; Imlygic), an oncolytic viral immunotherapy approved for patients with melanoma, is being evaluated in a presurgical setting in a phase II clinical trial that may help set the stage for expanding the toolkit of neoadjuvant options for patients with the malignancy.1
MRV Research
Macrophages surrounding lymph nodes block the progression of melanoma, other cancers
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have identified a type of immune cell that appears to block the progress of melanoma and other cancers in animal models. These subcapsular sinus (SCS) macrophages form a protective coating around lymph nodes, preventing the entry of tiny structures that transport bits of tumor tissue and help the cancer to grow and spread.
New compounds may block melanoma tumor growth
Blocking the activity of an enzyme called acid ceramidase makes human melanoma cells more sensitive to chemotherapeutic agents, according to a new study.1
Expert Explains Key Considerations With Immunotherapy in Melanoma
Although nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) are approved in combination for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma, regardless of BRAF mutation status, the checkpoint blockade has not automatically become the standard of care in this setting, says Tara C. Gangadhar, MD, an assistant professor of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.