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Chemotherapy and Biochemotherapy for Melanoma

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Melanoma

Abstract

The incidence of melanoma is increasing around the world, with the majority of patients diagnosed with a localized disease. Surgical treatment remains the preferred treatment method for localized diseases. However, high-risk patients have been found to have a high risk of recurrence and distant metastasis, including stage IIB (depth > 4 mm) and stage III patients (subclinically or clinically positive regional lymph node involvement). For such patients, the recommendations are for adjuvant therapy, in order to decrease the likelihood of developing distant metastatic disease. Effective agents include high-dose interferon-alpha (IFNα), pegylated IFNα, and ipilimumab, all of which are FDA approved. Other options may include biochemotherapy with cisplatin, vinblastine, dacarbazine, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IFNα. Several novel agents, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies, have significantly increased survival rates in unresectable, locally advanced and metastatic melanoma patients. Cytotoxic chemotherapy or immunotherapy with IL-2 or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) have recently been utilized as salvage therapy for those patient unresponsive to other forms of treatment. However, (bio)chemotherapy still plays an important role in the adjuvant treatment for many patients with advanced melanoma.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hematology and Oncology Division, Internal Medicine Department, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, New Taipei, Taiwan

    Chia-Yen Hung

  2. Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Chia-Yen Hung & John Wen-Cheng Chang

Authors
  1. Chia-Yen Hung
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  2. John Wen-Cheng Chang
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Correspondence to Chia-Yen Hung .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Louisiana State University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

    Adam I. Riker

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Hung, CY., Chang, J.WC. (2018). Chemotherapy and Biochemotherapy for Melanoma. In: Riker, A. (eds) Melanoma. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78310-9_32

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78310-9_32

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-78309-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-78310-9

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