Targeted Radiation for Melanoma

摘要

Patients with locally advanced or metastatic melanoma have few therapeutic options that provide long term survival benefits. The incidence of melanoma has been steadily rising in the United States with estimates of nearly 60,000 cases of melanoma for 2005 with almost 8,000 deaths attributable to this malignancy. The combination of increased patient numbers and a deficiency in effective treatment options has been the impetus for both intensified basic science research and an increase in clinical investigations. Currently clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of chemotherapy, biologic and vaccine based immunotherapy, and radiation therapy are ongoing.