Therapies in Development
The research into treatments for advanced melanoma continues, as cancer experts seek to find new ways to help delay or prevent the cancer from coming back after treatment. Researchers are investigating a variety of promising new therapies to treat people with advanced, advanced metastatic and high-risk melanoma.
Treatments Being Researched for Melanoma
With the development of several effective therapies since 2011, people with late-stage melanoma have renewed hope. Researchers are continuing to improve treatment options for patients with advanced, advanced metastatic melanoma and high-risk melanoma:
- Advanced metastatic melanoma is cancer in stages IIIC or IV that cannot be removed by surgery and has spread from its original site to other parts of the body.
- High-risk melanoma is cancer, usually in stages IIB, IIC, III and IV, that is deeper or thicker (more than 4 mm thick) at the primary site or involves nearby lymph nodes. High-risk melanoma has been successfully treated with surgery but has a greater likelihood of returning.
Some of the new treatments in research can destroy cancer tumors and prolong the period of time before cancer returns in patients with advanced metastatic melanoma.
Even after being treated for melanoma, most patients have a high risk of the cancer coming back. With adjuvant therapies, oncologists and physicians can help their patients with high-risk melanoma live longer without recurrence.
Learn More About Therapies Currently in Development
Melanoma Research
The Melanoma Research Alliance is the largest, non-profit funder of melanoma research worldwide. Since 2007, we have directly funded over $131 million in innovative grants to improve prevention, detection, and treatment of melanoma. We have also leveraged an additional $415 million in outside funds for research. Learn more about our funded research.
Last updated: August, 2021