Learn about immunotherapy drugs available to treat melanoma, and their potential side effects.

Targeted therapy uses drugs to target specific changes in cancer cells that help them grow, divide, and spread. Targeted therapy drugs are designed to be more precise. They fight cancer cells while causing less harm to other cells in the body. These are the latest targeted therapies that are approved to treat melanoma. New treatments become available all the time, so this may not be a complete list.

Chemotherapy (also called chemo) uses drugs to destroy or damage fast-growing cells like cancer cells. It is used to shrink tumors, slow cancer’s growth, relieve symptoms, or help people live longer. Chemotherapy drugs are given in different ways (intravenously, orally by a pill, or by injection). Chemotherapy is the most well-known systemic therapy. It is not often used to treat melanoma, but it is used sometimes after other treatments have been tried first. These are the latest chemotherapy drugs that are approved to treat melanoma. New treatments become available all the time, so this may not be a complete list.

The CAR T infusion can cause side effects. Some patients get severe side effects, while others get mild or no side effects. Patients who start CAR T cell therapy will be told about all of the side effects they might have. It is very important that patients tell their doctors about any side effects they experience. Most side effects can be managed if they are treated early. These are the current CAR T cell therapies approved for treatment as of July 2023.