Peptide Vaccines in Melanoma: Chemical Approaches towards Improved Immunotherapeutic Efficacy

Cancer of the skin is by far the most common of all cancers. Although the incidence of melanoma is relatively low among skin cancers, it can account for a high number of skin cancer deaths. Since the start of deeper insight into the mechanisms of melanoma tumorigenesis and their strong interaction with the immune system, the development of new therapeutical strategies has been continuously rising. The high number of melanoma cell mutations provides a diverse set of antigens that the immune system can recognize and use to distinguish tumor cells from normal cells. Peptide-based synthetic anti-tumor vaccines are based on tumor antigens that elicit an immune response due to antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Although targeting APCs with peptide antigens is the most important assumption for vaccine development, peptide antigens alone are poorly immunogenic. The immunogenicity of peptide antigens can be improved not only by synthetic modifications but also by the assistance of adjuvants and/or delivery systems. The current review summarizes the different chemical approaches for the development of effective peptide-based vaccines for the immunotherapeutic treatment of advanced melanoma.

Automated summary

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, with melanoma being a leading cause of skin cancer deaths. Recent advancements in understanding melanoma tumorigenesis and its interaction with the immune system have led to the development of new therapeutic strategies. Peptide-based vaccines, which target tumor antigens and activate immune responses, have shown promise in treating advanced melanoma. However, the immunogenicity of peptide antigens can be enhanced through synthetic modifications, adjuvants, and delivery systems. This review summarizes the various chemical approaches for developing effective peptide-based vaccines for immunotherapy in advanced melanoma.