Melanoma is one of the most violent forms of skin cancer that has become a
major global health concern in recent years. Despite the efforts made to understand the
pathogenesis of this cancer, its incidence has continued to rise over time. In response,
various new therapeutic approaches have been developed over the past decade,
including immunotherapy. Immunotherapy involves inspiring defense mechanisms to
identify and attack tumor cells. The immunotherapies consist of immune checkpoint
blockade (TRC blockade, MHC blockade, B7 blockade, T-VEC blockade, IDO
blockade), adoptive T-cell transfer, cytokines (IL-1, IL-12, IL-6, IL-15, GM-CSF, IFNγ, TNF-α), vaccines, (Gp-100 vaccine, IDO-Peptide Vaccine, 6-melanoma helper
peptide vaccine), and oncolytic viruses ((T-VEC) Talimogene Laherparepvec, JX-594/
Pexa Vec,(CVA21) Coxsackievirus A21 / Cavatak, (Reolysin®) Pelareorep). Immune
checkpoint blockade is an immunotherapy that works by hindering precise proteins
known as immune checkpoints that control the immune response. These checkpoints
are present on the exterior of immune cells and show a serious character in modifiable
immune response, averting over-instigation and autoimmunity. The tumor cells have
evolved ways to achieve these checkpoints to escape the immune response, leading to
decreased immunity against cancer cells. Immune checkpoint blockade works by
targeting these checkpoints and blocking their activity. By blocking the activity of
these checkpoints, immune checkpoint blockade therapy can enrich the immune
response contrary to the tumor cells. This approach showspromising outcomes in the
cure of melanoma with several molecules permitted by the US FDA.
Keywords: Adoptive T-cell transfer, Cytokines, Cancer vaccines, Immunotherapy, Skin cancer, Immune checkpoint inhibitors.
