Melanoma

Melanoma is a form of cancer that begins in melanocytes (cells that make the pigment melanin). It may begin in a mole (skin melanoma), but can also begin in other pigmented tissues, such as in the eye or in the intestines.

What are Melanomas?

The treatment of melanoma may involve surgery, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or a combination of several treatment techniques. Each of these treatments is outlined below.

Metastatic Melanoma

Melanoma Symptoms and Cause

Melanoma Research

What are the Statistics of Melanoma?

Melanoma History

Melanoma Prognosis

How is Melanoma Diagnosed and Treated?

Managing Choroidal Melanomas

Malignant Melanoma

Choroidal Melanoma

Latest Melanoma News and Research

Engineered Salmonella delivers cancer-fighting viruses to deep tumors

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have designed non-toxic Salmonella bacteria to deliver viruses that are safe to humans but potent against liver and pancreatic cancer tumors - two cancers with an extremely poor prognosis.

3 Jun 2026

Study uncovers genetic trade-off between youth and longevity

A new study identifies vgll3 as a key gene that promotes rapid growth and early reproduction while increasing the risk of aging and cancer later in life.

3 Jun 2026

Vaccine and drug combination cuts melanoma recurrence by half

The combination of a vaccine and a drug, which both harness the immune system to attack cancer cells, has proven successful in cutting the risk of skin cancer recurrence by 49 percent, a new study shows.

1 Jun 2026

New T-cell engager therapy shows effectiveness in advanced solid tumors

A team led by researchers from the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC) Dresden at the Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital (UKD) and the Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine at the TUD Dresden University of Technology will present clinical results for the first time on May 31, 2026, at this year’s annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) regarding a new cancer immunotherapy for the treatment of advanced tumors.

1 Jun 2026

Review explores complex associations between sleep apnea and lung cancer

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder characterized by intermittent hypoxia and sleep fragmentation, which may contribute to lung cancer development and progression.

29 May 2026

Scientists uncover shared gene signatures that reveal how mammals age

Researchers mapped more than 11,000 transcriptomes across mice, rats, macaques, and humans, revealing conserved molecular signatures of aging and mortality across tissues, species, and cell types. The study developed interpretable transcriptomic clocks that track age, mortality-related molecular change, chronic disease signals and responses to lifespan-altering interventions.

29 May 2026

Naturally occurring peptide can reverse drug resistance in melanoma

Melanoma is one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer, due in large part to its ability to rapidly develop resistance to treatment.

27 May 2026

New AI model predicts cancer treatment responses from mutations

Researchers at University of California San Diego have developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) model that can translate a tumor's complex genetic profile into predictions about how that cancer may respond to treatment.

26 May 2026

Roswell Park scientists present five key cancer studies at clinical meeting

The research findings of experts from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center will be featured during the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting May 29 to June 2 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

25 May 2026

New thermal imaging system detects early melanoma before it is visible

Detecting melanoma before it becomes visible is a major challenge in dermatology. Now, with researchers from Université de Montréal, scientists at Université du Québec's Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) have developed a promising solution.

25 May 2026

Excess EXO1 protein may drive cancer DNA damage and treatment response

When it comes to cancer, tumor suppressor genes are usually thought of as the "good guys." These genes make proteins that protect and repair DNA in cells.

21 May 2026

Scientists capture immune cells attacking live melanoma cells in real time

Scientists at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research have captured, for the first time, 'housekeeping' immune cells actively attacking and engulfing live melanoma cells – a discovery that could change the way we approach treatment for one of Australia's most common and deadly cancers.

21 May 2026

Common allergy medication may also help fight aggressive cancers

A drug widely used to treat asthma and allergies may also help fight aggressive cancers, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study that uncovered how tumors hijack common white blood cells to evade immunotherapy.

19 May 2026

Researchers develop pH and redox-sensitive systems to reduce immunotherapy toxicity

Although cancer immunotherapy has transformed treatment by harnessing the immune system to eliminate tumors, only a small subset of patients benefit. Many solid tumors remain "cold," characterized by poor immune cell infiltration and resistance to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB).

15 May 2026

Adult weight gain strongly linked to higher obesity-related cancer risk

New research presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2026) in Istanbul, Turkey (12-15 May) shows that people who gain the highest amount of weight across adulthood are at greatly increased risk of certain obesity related cancers.

13 May 2026

New mRNA adjuvant dramatically boosts T-cell vaccine responses in mice

MIT engineers have developed a new way to amplify the T-cell response to mRNA vaccines - an advance that could lead to much more powerful cancer vaccines and stronger protection against infectious diseases.

13 May 2026

Antibodies targeting GPNMB may slow Parkinson's disease progression

Monoclonal antibodies can block a key immune‑related protein that drives the spread of brain cell damage in Parkinson's disease (PD).

12 May 2026

Study challenges assumptions about testosterone’s role in brain cancer

Scientists have long suspected that androgens, male sex hormones like testosterone, may help tumors grow because the hormones can suppress immune responses to some cancers.

8 May 2026

Long telomeres linked to higher lymphoma risk in families

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and the Telomere Clinic at Johns Hopkins have identified a genetic syndrome in which unusually long telomeres - the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes - allow immune cells to remain biologically "younger" for longer than normal, predisposing affected individuals to lymphoma and other cancers.

7 May 2026

AAD survey reveals Americans ignore sun risks despite skin cancer concerns

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) today released results from its annual Practice Safe Sun Survey, revealing many Americans still engage in risky sun behaviors driven by misinformation, social media, and persistent tanning myths despite their concerns about the long term aging effects of sun exposure. In recognition of Skin Cancer Awareness Month (May) and Melanoma Monday® on May 4, the AAD is encouraging the public to practice safe sun to reduce their risk of skin cancer.

4 May 2026