Dr. Kim on Evolution of Treatment Outcomes in Melanoma

Kevin B. Kim, MD, medical oncology, California Pacific Medical Center, discusses how treatment outcomes in melanoma have evolved over the last few years.

For patients with metastatic melanoma in the past, Kim says that trial results with chemotherapy showed an overall survival (OS) rate of 6-9 months, with a maximum of 12 months. Today, OS for a patient receiving targeted therapy or immunotherapy is at least 2 years.

Kim believes there are currently more patients with metastatic melanoma alive at the 3- and 5-year mark of diagnosis because of these advances.

Future studies will show more data regarding long-term control for patients with melanoma.