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Immunotherapy for Skin Cancer

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By Editorial Team

4 min read

Reviewed by: HU Medical Review Board | Last reviewed: May 2025 | Last updated: May 2025

Your immune system is your body's defense against cells that are not normal. These could be cells infected with a virus, infectious bacteria, or fungal cells, or they could be abnormal cells that are dividing rapidly and uncontrollably, which can lead to cancer.1

It may be possible to treat skin cancer by turning your immune system against it. Several medicines are available that:2

  • Help your immune system identify cancer cells
  • Boost your immune system
  • Create an immune response to the tumor

Immune system basics

The immune system is a network of cells and proteins that helps your body fight germs. The 2 main parts of the immune system include the innate and adaptive immune systems.1

The innate immune system is like your body's first line of defense. It works by recognizing germs that are not normally found in your body. When it finds a germ, it sends out signals to other parts of the immune system to attack it.1

The adaptive immune system is like your body's special forces. It learns to recognize specific germs and how to fight them. This means that if you are ever exposed to the same germ again, your body can often fight it off more quickly and easily.1

B-cells and T-cells are the main cells in the adaptive immune system. They recognize invaders by the antigens on their surfaces. Antigens are molecules that trigger an immune response. When a B-cell or T-cell recognizes an antigen, it becomes activated.1

B-cells make antibodies that bind to antigens and help the immune system fight off invaders. T-cells kill infected cells and recruit other immune cells to help fight the infection.1

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T-cell function is an important target for drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors. These drugs block the signals that help inactivate T-cells. This can help the immune system activate to fight cancer cells.1

What are immune checkpoint inhibitors?

Immune checkpoint inhibitors generally block the cancer cells from inactivating the immune system cells, allowing the immune system to function against cancer.3

These drugs do not kill cancer cells directly, but they help the immune system do a better job of killing them.3

There are different checkpoint proteins that individual checkpoint inhibitors can target in the treatment of various forms of cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitors used to treat certain forms of skin cancer are given as an infusion into a vein (IV) or an injection under the skin (subcutaneous), depending on the specific medicine used, which include:3

  • Keytruda® (pembrolizumab)
  • Opdivo® (nivolumab)
  • Libtayo® (cemiplimab-rwlc)
  • Tecentriq® (atezolizumab)
  • Tecentriq HybrezaTM (atezolizumab and hyaluronidase-tqjs)
  • Bavencio® (avelumab)
  • Imfinzi® (durvalumab)
  • Yervoy® (Ipilimumab)
  • Imjudo® (tremelimumab-actl)
  • Opdualag® (nivolumab and relatlimab-rmbw)
  • Zynyz® (retifanlimab-dlwr)
  • UnloxcytTM (cosibelimab-ipdl)

What do immune checkpoint inhibitors treat?

Immune checkpoint inhibitors treat a variety of cancers, including certain forms of:3

What are cytokines?

Immune cells talk with each other by sending signals. Cytokines help in sending these signals. Cytokines are proteins that bind to receptors on the surface of immune cells. When a cytokine binds to a receptor, it activates the receptor. This activation causes changes inside the cell.4

You can think of receptors and ligands like a lock and key. The receptor is like the lock, and the ligand is like the key. When the ligand fits into the receptor, it activates the receptor.4

Cytokines are essential for immune cell communication because they help cells to talk to each other. They also have a role in cell growth and immune cell activation.4

Unlike targeted therapies, cytokines are general immune system boosters. They help the immune system fight cancer cells by rallying its defenses.4

Two cytokines used to treat certain forms of skin cancer include:4

  • Interleukin-2
  • Interferon (interferon-alfa and peginterferon)

What do cytokines treat?

Cytokines treat a variety of cancers, including certain forms of melanoma.4

What is intralesional immunotherapy?

Talimogene laherparepvec is an oncolytic virus that can shrink melanoma tumors. The exact way it works is not well known. It is thought to work by:5

  • Killing tumor cells by causing them to burst open
  • Creating an immune response

The Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine has been used to treat stage III or recurrent melanoma for many years. Its use has become less common now that new immunotherapies are available.5

This vaccine works by introducing a weakened strain of bacteria into the body. The immune system then attacks the bacteria, and in the process, it also attacks nearby cancer cells.5

What is tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy?

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy is a type of adoptive cell therapy. It involves taking T cells that have already infiltrated a patient's tumor, isolating them, and growing large numbers of these cells in the lab. These expanded and activated TILs are then infused back into the patient to target and destroy the melanoma cells.6

TIL therapy is the first adoptive cell therapy approved by the FDA for a solid tumor cancer, specifically for advanced melanoma that has not responded to other treatments.6

An example of TIL therapy for advanced melanoma is:6

  • Lifileucel (Amtagvi®)

Can immunotherapies be used together?

It may be possible to combine certain immunotherapies and target the cancer in different ways. Researchers continue to study whether additional combinations of immunotherapy might help improve treatment.3

Treatment results and side effects can vary from person to person. This treatment information is not meant to replace professional medical advice. Talk to your doctor about what to expect before starting and while taking any treatment.