Melanoma vaccines as a therapeutic option

Background. In 1998, 41,600 new cases of melanoma with 7,300 deaths were ex pected. Worldwide, the incidence has risen 5% a year against a backdrop of generally decreasing cancer trends. Later stages of melanoma carry a severe prognosis. The need for newer, more effective therapeutic strategies for c ancer is obvious. For melanoma, early diagnosis and surgical treatment are the only options that are currently curative. Chemotherapy and radiation th erapy are of limited efficacy. Methods. We reviewed the various forms of immunotherapy, concentrating on v accine therapy. We then reviewed the history of our own vaccine in the cont ext of the field of immunotherapy, and compared efficacy, immune response, production methods, and survival. Results. Survival is improved among recipients of melanoma vaccine when com pared with patients receiving conventional therapy. Conclusions. Immunotherapy in the form of melanoma vaccines is better than conventional therapy and is trending toward purer antigenic preparations.