TY - JOUR
T1 - Radiotherapy and immunotherapy
T2 - Can this combination change the prognosis of patients with melanoma brain metastases?
AU - Franceschini, D.
AU - Franzese, C.
AU - Navarria, P.
AU - Ascolese, A. M.
AU - De Rose, F.
AU - Del Vecchio, M.
AU - Santoro, A.
AU - Scorsetti, M.
PY - 2016/11/1
Y1 - 2016/11/1
N2 - Brain metastases are a common occurrence in patients with melanoma. Prognosis is poor. Radiotherapy is the main local treatment for brain metastases. Recently, immunotherapy (i.e. immune checkpoints inhibitors) showed a significant impact on the prognosis of patients with metastatic melanoma, also in the setting of patients with brain metastases. Despite various possible treatments, survival of patients with melanoma brain metastases is still unsatisfactory; new treatment modalities or combination of therapies need to be explored. Being immunotherapy and radiotherapy alone both efficient in the treatment of melanoma brain metastases, the combination of these two therapies seems logical. Moreover radiotherapy can improve the efficacy of immunotherapy and the immune system plays a relevant role in the action of radiotherapy. Preclinical data support this combination. Clinical data are more contradictory. In this review, we will discuss available therapies for melanoma brain metastases, focusing on the preclinical and clinical available data supporting the possible synergism between radiotherapy and immunotherapy.
AB - Brain metastases are a common occurrence in patients with melanoma. Prognosis is poor. Radiotherapy is the main local treatment for brain metastases. Recently, immunotherapy (i.e. immune checkpoints inhibitors) showed a significant impact on the prognosis of patients with metastatic melanoma, also in the setting of patients with brain metastases. Despite various possible treatments, survival of patients with melanoma brain metastases is still unsatisfactory; new treatment modalities or combination of therapies need to be explored. Being immunotherapy and radiotherapy alone both efficient in the treatment of melanoma brain metastases, the combination of these two therapies seems logical. Moreover radiotherapy can improve the efficacy of immunotherapy and the immune system plays a relevant role in the action of radiotherapy. Preclinical data support this combination. Clinical data are more contradictory. In this review, we will discuss available therapies for melanoma brain metastases, focusing on the preclinical and clinical available data supporting the possible synergism between radiotherapy and immunotherapy.
KW - Checkpoint inhibitors
KW - Immunotherapy
KW - Radiation therapy
KW - Stereotactic radiosurgery
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ctrv.2016.08.003
DO - 10.1016/j.ctrv.2016.08.003
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:84983468144
VL - 50
SP - 1
EP - 8
JO - Cancer Treatment Reviews
JF - Cancer Treatment Reviews
SN - 0305-7372
ER -