Melanoma

About Melanoma

• Melanoma is a type of skin cancer.
• It develops from melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin.
• It usually develops on sun-exposed skin, including the arms, back, face and legs.
• In India, it commonly occurs on the soles of the feet or beneath the nails and is called acral lentiginous melanoma.
• Mucosal melanoma starts in the mucous membranes and is highly aggressive, with few early warning signs.
• Causes:
  • UV Exposure: Most melanomas are caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from sunlight or tanning lamps and beds.
  • Unclear Cause: The exact cause of all melanomas is not clear.
• Symptoms:
  • Mole Changes: A change in an existing mole can be a warning sign.
  • New Growth: A new pigmented or unusual-looking growth may develop on the skin.
  • Persistent Lesions: Any pigmented lesion that changes or persists needs investigation.
• Treatment:
  • Surgery: In early stages, surgery has a high probability of curing melanoma.
  • Lymphadenectomy: If melanoma has spread, nearby lymph nodes may need to be removed.
  • Metastasectomy: It is used to remove small melanoma growths from organs.
  • Immunotherapy: Immune-checkpoint blockade using therapies targeting CTLA–4 (Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte-Associated Protein4) and PD-1 (Programmed Cell Death Protein 1) can help the immune system attack tumours.
  • Precision medicine: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) can identify tumour mutations, including BRAF pathway mutations, to guide targeted treatment.
  • TIL therapy: Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are taken from the tumour, expanded in the laboratory and reinfused in larger numbers.
  • Personalised mRNA vaccine: In August 2026, intismeran with pembrolizumab significantly reduced recurrence after surgery, although survival data remain pending.