With the introduction of innovative therapeutic methods, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and BRAF and MEK inhibitors, the prognosis of patients with metastatic melanoma has significantly improved in recent years. Given the survival advantage in the metastatic situation and the data from early-stage prospective clinical studies, these medicines have been approved as adjuvant treatments for high-risk resected stage III illnesses. Several trials have also looked into immune checkpoint inhibitors, as well as BRAF and MEK inhibitors, for the neoadjuvant therapy of high-risk stage III melanoma, with preliminary results indicating that this might be a highly beneficial approach in this scenario. Even with novel treatments, the likelihood of disease recurrence varies greatly across stage III patients, and no biomarkers for predicting disease recurrence have been identified yet. Improved risk stratification is especially important in this scenario to minimise needless therapy for patients who have a low chance of illness recurrence, as well as to reduce toxicities and costs. In this context, research for predictive and prognostic biomarkers is continuing in order to shed insight on the intricate interplay between the tumour and the host immune system and to further tailor therapy.

This study delves into the existing evidence on circulating and tissue biomarkers, including the tumour microenvironment and related gene signatures, and their predictive and prognostic roles during neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy for patients with cutaneous high-risk melanoma.

Reference: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40257-021-00608-5

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