CELL INTELLIGENCE · 肿瘤细胞治疗研究

Melanoma has emerged as a major focus of cancer immunotherapy research because of its highly immunogenic nature and responsiveness to immune-based treatments. Therapeutic melanoma vaccines are designed to stimulate tumor-specific immune responses through the delivery of Tumor-Associated Antigens (TAAs), Tumor-Specific Antigens (TSAs), and personalized neoantigens. This narrative review provides an overview of current melanoma vaccine strategies, including peptide-based vaccines, dendritic cell vaccines, nucleic acid-based platforms such as mRNA, DNA, and viral vector vaccines.

Recent advances in vaccine engineering and tumor genomics have accelerated the development of personalized neoantigen vaccines capable of targeting mutations unique to individual tumors. In parallel, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are increasingly being incorporated into neoantigen identification pipelines to improve epitope prediction and optimize vaccine design.

Combination strategies involving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs), particularly anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 therapies, have further enhanced interest in melanoma vaccines by helping overcome tumor-induced immune suppression and augment T-cell activation.

In addition to reviewing vaccine mechanisms and emerging technologies, this manuscript examines the evolving clinical trial landscape through analysis of melanoma vaccine studies registered on ClinicalTrials. gov. Although many studies have reported encouraging safety and immunogenicity findings, challenges related to tumor heterogeneity, immune evasion, biomarker selection, and manufacturing complexity continue to limit widespread clinical implementation. Ongoing advances in computational immunology, biomaterial engineering, and precision oncology are expected to further refine melanoma vaccine development and improve therapeutic efficacy. Collectively, these innovations may help establish melanoma vaccines as an increasingly important component of future personalized cancer immunotherapy strategies. Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer that can spread quickly and become life-threatening. Unlike many other cancers, melanoma can often be recognized by the immune system, which has led scientists to explore ways to train the body to better fight it. One promising approach is the use of therapeutic vaccines, which are designed not to prevent disease, but to help the immune system detect and destroy cancer cells.

This review explains the different types of vaccines currently being studied for melanoma. These include vaccines made from genetic material, small pieces of proteins, weakened viruses, or immune cells. Each of these approaches aims to teach the immune system to recognize markers found on melanoma cells and attack them more effectively. A newer and exciting strategy involves personalized vaccines. These are designed based on unique changes found in an individual patient’s tumor, making the treatment more specific and potentially more effective.

Advances in artificial intelligence are helping researchers identify these targets more quickly and accurately. The review also discusses combining vaccines with other treatments, especially drugs that remove the “brakes” from the immune system, allowing it to respond more strongly to cancer.

Early research shows that such combinations may improve patient outcomes. Although these approaches are promising, challenges remain, including improving how well these vaccines work in patients. Continued research may lead to more effective and personalized treatments for melanoma in the future.