Novel Melanoma Therapies and Their Side Effects

It is unclear whether immunomodulating agents exacerbate autoimmune diseases. Patients with autoimmune diseases were not included in the clinical trials but reportedly have been treated with ipilimumab without exacerbations. Nevertheless, there has been a report of worsening multiple sclerosis in a melanoma patient treated with ipilimumab.³⁹

Conclusion

Immunomodulators have dramatically improved the survival and care of patients with unresectable melanomas. Because of their mechanism of action, they have the capability to produce substantial toxicity. Although most AEs are mild, lethal side effects can ensue. Therefore, all specialists treating patients with melanoma should be familiar with these side effects and their treatment options, as survival rates and survival times will be increasing over the next few years. Rapid AE identification and treatment can improve patient outcomes and optimize the therapeutic potential of these medications. Because immune checkpoint inhibitors are fairly new, further studies are needed to assess irAEs and the long-term impact in patients treated with immunomodulators.