Immunotherapy for Melanoma
Immunotherapy works with the body’s immune system to find, attack, and kill cancer cells. These drugs can work in different ways. Some boost the immune system, so it can fight cancer better. Other immunotherapy drugs help the immune system better recognize cancer cells.
These are the latest immunotherapy drugs approved to treat melanoma. New treatments become available all the time, so this may not be a complete list.
Please note: The side effects listed here do not represent a comprehensive list. It's important to discuss all potential side effects of a drug with your health care team. Be sure to tell your health care team about any side effects you do have.
All Available Treatments
IV or Injection =
Pill =
Treatment Type
Checkpoint Inhibitors
Drug Names
Potential Side Effects - All Drugs
Dry eye
Fatigue/weakness
Mouth sores
Mouth/throat changes
Skin/nail changes
Weight/appetite changes
Potential Side Effects - Opdivo
Pain
Potential Side Effects - Opdivo and Yervoy
Muscle pain
Potential Side Effects - Tecentriq and Yervoy
Cough
Important Things to Know
- These drugs are given by IV (through a vein).
- Tecentriq is most often given in combination with targeted therapy drugs.
- Mouth sores are a potential side effect that can be painful and affect your oral intake. Speak to your provider about proactive management and an oral care regimen.
- Potential side effects of Opdivo include joint, back, jaw, or bone pain.
Treatment Type
Interleukin-2 (IL-2)
Drug Name
Potential Side Effects
Blood pressure changes
Diarrhea
Emotional or cognitive changes
Flu-like symptoms
Heart problems
Liver problems
Low blood counts
Nausea/vomiting
Skin/nail changes
Swelling
Urinary, kidney, or bladder changes
Important Things to Know
- This drug can be given by IV or injected into the tumor.
- Low blood counts are a potential side effect that may put you at risk for anemia, infection, or bleeding.
- Patients who receive aldesleukin in high doses may be treated in the hospital and watched carefully to help manage possible side effects.
Treatment Type
Oncolytic Virus Therapy
Drug Name
Important Things to Know
- This drug is injected into the tumor.
Potential Side Effects: fatigue/weakness, heart problems, diarrhea, abnormal lab tests, swelling, skin/nail changes, blood pressure changes, hair loss, infection, lung problems
Treatment Type
Tumor-Derived Autologous T Cell Immunotherapy
Drug Name
Potential Side Effects
Abnormal lab tests
Blood pressure changes
Diarrhea
Fatigue/weakness
Hair thinning/loss
Heart problems
Infections
Lung problems
Skin/nail changes
Swelling
Important Things to Know
- Amtagvi® is for people with unresectable or metastatic melanoma
- To take Amtagvi®, you must have been previously treated with a PD-1 blocking antibody
- If you are BRAF V600 mutation positive, a BRAF inhibitor with or without a MEK inhibitor must be used before you can take Amtagvi®