Name one immunotherapy agent used in melanoma treatment.

Pembrolizumab is a key immunotherapy agent used in the treatment of melanoma. It is a monoclonal antibody that works by inhibiting the programed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) pathway, which is often exploited by cancer cells to evade the immune system. By blocking PD-1, pembrolizumab enhances the body’s immune response against melanoma cells, allowing for more effective targeting and destruction of these cancerous cells.

In the context of melanoma, this form of immunotherapy has been shown to improve progression-free survival and overall survival in patients when compared to traditional treatments. Immunotherapy, like pembrolizumab, has transformed melanoma management, offering options to patients who may not respond well to conventional therapies. This contrasts sharply with alternatives such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgical intervention, which do not utilize the immune system in the same way to fight cancer.