Updates in adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapies for resectable cutaneous melanoma.

Abstract

Over the last 15 years, treatment of melanoma has been revolutionized using immune checkpoint inhibitors and mitogen-activated protein kinase-targeted therapies. However, some patients are at high risk of disease recurrence. Therefore, strategies to reduce the risk of recurrence are needed. Recent trials have evaluated the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors prior to stage III/IV melanoma resection (neoadjuvant treatment) in comparison to conventional use of these drugs after surgery (adjuvant treatment). In addition, checkpoint inhibitors are now being studied for stage IIb/IIc melanoma. Herein, we review recent randomized clinical trials that suggest that neoadjuvant use of checkpoint inhibitors (prior to surgery) and use of checkpoint inhibitors in earlier (stage II) melanoma may improve outcomes.