Immunotargeting of Melanoma

The main task of the immune system is to defend the body against pathogens. The ability of the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells is the basis for cancer immunotherapy. There is ample evidence of how important role plays the immune system to fight cancer: (i) spontaneous remission in patients with certain cancers; (ii) the presence of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the environment of the tumor or regional lymph nodes, (iii) the presence of monocytes, lymphocytes and plasma cells infiltrating the tumor, (iv) increased incidence of some malignancies in immunosuppressed patients, (v) documented remissions of the disease after use of immunomodulators. Better understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that control the immune system has enabled the development of many innovative and promising therapeutic strategies that modulate the immune response. It seems that in the next 5 to 10 years past surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, immunotherapy will find a permanent position in the treatment of cancer modalities.