Cancer Patient Guide
Melanoma: Expert Insights for Treatment Decisions
Curated from expert webinars (part of 150+ across all cancer types) hosted by Cancer Patient Lab, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Covers BRAF V600E mutations, immunotherapy (nivolumab + ipilimumab), TIL therapy, targeted therapy, adjuvant treatment, and clinical trials.
Expert Panel
Oncologists and researchers who contributed insights through Cancer Patient Lab webinars
Tony Letai, MD, PhD
Functional precision medicine — testing drugs on cancer cells
Lisa Butterfield
Cancer vaccines and immunotherapy
Matthew Dons
TIL therapy — using your own immune cells
Ezra Cohen, MD
AI tools in cancer patient-doctor conversations
Lauren Leiman
Liquid biopsy for cancer monitoring
Selin Kurnaz
Finding the right cancer clinical trial
Massive Bio
Treatment Topics
Key treatment areas covered across our melanoma webinar series
Immunotherapy: Checkpoint Inhibitors
Melanoma was the first cancer where checkpoint inhibitors showed transformative results. The combination of nivolumab + ipilimumab achieves the highest response rates (~60%) with potential for long-term durable responses. Single-agent PD-1 inhibitors (nivolumab, pembrolizumab) offer strong efficacy with fewer side effects. The choice between combination and single-agent therapy depends on disease burden, patient fitness, and risk tolerance.
BRAF V600E & Targeted Therapy
Approximately 40-50% of melanomas harbor BRAF V600E/K mutations. BRAF + MEK inhibitor combinations (dabrafenib + trametinib, encorafenib + binimetinib, vemurafenib + cobimetinib) produce rapid responses in most patients. The key treatment decision — immunotherapy first vs. targeted therapy first — depends on tumor burden, LDH levels, and brain metastasis status.
TIL Therapy: Your Own Immune Cells
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy — lifileucel (Amtagvi) — is FDA-approved for advanced melanoma after prior PD-1 and, if BRAF-mutated, BRAF/MEK inhibitors. TIL therapy harvests immune cells from your tumor, expands them in a lab, and infuses billions back to fight cancer. Matthew Dons discusses how this cellular immunotherapy approach works and who benefits most.
Adjuvant Treatment After Surgery
For resected stage IIB-IV melanoma, adjuvant immunotherapy (nivolumab or pembrolizumab) or targeted therapy (dabrafenib + trametinib for BRAF-mutated) can significantly reduce recurrence risk. The mRNA cancer vaccine V940 (mRNA-4157) combined with pembrolizumab is showing promise in clinical trials for high-risk resected melanoma, representing a potential shift toward personalized adjuvant approaches.
Monitoring & Liquid Biopsy
Liquid biopsy is emerging as a tool for monitoring melanoma — tracking ctDNA can detect recurrence before imaging and help assess treatment response. Comprehensive genomic profiling can identify additional actionable mutations beyond BRAF, including NRAS, KIT, and rare fusions that may qualify for targeted treatments or clinical trials.
Common Questions from Melanoma Patients
Answered by Navis AI, informed by expert webinars and medical guidelines
What does BRAF V600E mutation mean for my melanoma treatment?
Should I get combination immunotherapy (nivolumab + ipilimumab)?
What is the difference between immunotherapy and targeted therapy for melanoma?
Do I need adjuvant therapy after melanoma surgery?
What is TIL therapy and am I eligible?
How is melanoma staged and what does my stage mean?
What are the side effects of immunotherapy for melanoma?
What clinical trials are available for melanoma?
Testing Services for Melanoma
Genomic testing, liquid biopsy, and molecular profiling services relevant to melanoma
Melanoma Webinars
From Cancer Patient Lab — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
TIL Therapy: Using Your Own Immune Cells to Fight Cancer
Matthew Dons
Cancer Vaccines: How They Work and Who Can Benefit
Lisa Butterfield
Functional Precision Medicine: Testing Drugs on Your Cancer Cells
Tony Letai, MD, PhD
How to Find the Right Cancer Clinical Trial
Selin Kurnaz, Massive Bio
Liquid Biopsy for Cancer: Monitoring Treatment Response
Lauren Leiman, Jenn Dickey
How AI Tools Are Changing Cancer Patient-Doctor Conversations
Ezra Cohen, MD
Self-Care During Cancer Treatment
Thanos Kosmidis
How to Access Cancer Treatments: Insurance, Clinical Trials
Chris Beardmore
Paying for Cancer Treatments
Nancy Novack, Mike Yancey, Kevin Fordney
Gut Microbiome and Cancer
Michael Liss, MD, PhD
Get Personalized Melanoma Insights
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This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Content is curated from expert webinars hosted by Cancer Patient Lab, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Always consult your oncologist for treatment decisions. Meet our team →