Local and regional therapy for primary and locally recurrent melanoma

Clin Adv Hematol Oncol. 2021 Apr;19(4):246-260.

Abstract

In the vast majority of cases, cutaneous melanoma presents as localized disease and is treated with wide excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy, with shared decision making regarding completion lymph node dissection and adjuvant systemic therapy. The treatment of recurrent and in-transit disease is more complex, with further options for regional and systemic therapies and multiple variables to be factored into decisions. Rates of overall and complete response to regional therapies can be quite high in carefully chosen patients, which limits the need for systemic therapies and their inherent side effects. Ongoing trials aim to assess the efficacy of combination regional and systemic therapies and assist in deciding among these options. This review discusses the treatment of primary melanoma and regional nodal disease and offers an in-depth discussion of options for the treatment of recurrent melanoma and in-transit melanoma.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Coloring Agents / therapeutic use
  • Disease Management
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-2 / therapeutic use
  • Melanoma / diagnosis
  • Melanoma / therapy*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / diagnosis
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / therapy*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Oncolytic Virotherapy
  • Rose Bengal / therapeutic use
  • Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

Substances

  • Coloring Agents
  • Interleukin-2
  • Rose Bengal
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor