Melanoma immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, yet metastatic melanoma remains one of the most challenging forms of cancer, occurring when melanoma cells spread beyond the original site to distant organs such as the lungs, liver, brain, or bones.
While conventional melanoma immunotherapy has improved outcomes for many patients, approximately 40-60% of metastatic melanoma cases either don’t respond to standard treatments or develop resistance after initial response.
How Does Our Melanoma Immunotherapy Differ From Standard Treatment?
At Biotherapy International, we specialize in experimental cancer treatments based on cutting-edge immunotherapy principles applicable to various oncological diseases, including metastatic melanoma. Our approach goes beyond standard therapy, offering hope to patients who have exhausted traditional options or are seeking the most advanced treatment methods.
Our protocols are based on a thoughtful combination of advanced immunotherapeutic methods applied in a specific sequence to achieve maximum effect with minimal side effects. Unlike standard single-drug regimens, our approach creates a synergistic effect through several complementary mechanisms. These protocols, developed over decades of research and clinical experience, significantly increase effectiveness against treatment-resistant melanoma.
Metastatic Melanoma Treatment Options Beyond Standard Protocols
Our immunotherapy protocols are specifically designed for patients with stage 3 and stage 4 melanoma, addressing the complex challenges of advanced and metastatic disease through innovative treatment strategies.
14-Day Oncolytic Virus Therapy Protocol
Oncolytic virus therapy forms the foundation of our immunotherapeutic approach. We use it as first-line therapy to maximally reduce tumor mass and achieve minimal residual disease (MRD).
Unlike standard approaches with limited virus administration, our intensive 14-day protocol ensures maximum tumor exposure and immune system activation. Patients can receive this specialized course at one of our partner clinics.
How Our Oncolytic Virus Protocol Works
Our oncolytic viruses selectively infect and destroy melanoma cells while sparing healthy tissue. This process:
- Directly kills cancer cells through viral replication
- Releases tumor antigens that “teach” the immune system to recognize the cancer
- Converts “cold” tumors (which the immune system cannot see) into “hot” tumors (which it actively attacks)
- Creates an inflammatory environment that enhances subsequent immunotherapies
Unlike standard approaches that may use limited virus administration, our intensive 14-day protocol ensures maximum tumor exposure and immune system activation. This approach may be combined with direct intratumoral injection of oncolytic viruses and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for enhanced effectiveness.
Enhancing Oncolytic Virus Effects Through Immunotherapy
The next stage of our protocol involves the administration of checkpoint inhibitors 2-3 weeks after viral treatment — a critically important time when the immune system is maximally active against virus-marked cancer cells. Our checkpoint inhibitors melanoma approach differs significantly from traditional high-dose protocols.
Benefits of Our Low-Dose Checkpoint Inhibitor Melanoma Approach
- Reduced side effects compared to standard dosing
- Effective blocking of negative immune regulators
- Enhanced recognition of virus-marked tumor cells
- Potential for extended treatment duration due to better tolerability
Cytokine-Mediated Immunotherapy (CMI)
For patients with poor tolerance to standard checkpoint inhibitors or those preferring home-based treatment, we offer cytokine-mediated immunotherapy (CMI). Treatment can be administered at home under remote supervision and is usually well tolerated by patients.
This two-step immunotherapy strategy first suppresses negative immune regulators that block anti-cancer responses, then maximally activates the immune system against the tumor using targeted approaches.
Personalized Cancer Vaccines for Melanoma
For eligible patients, we develop personalized cancer vaccines based on the patient’s own tumor tissue. Manufacturing of a personalized vaccine is possible when the patient has cryopreserved tumor tissue or in cases of planned surgical intervention, during which we can obtain the necessary biomaterial for vaccine development. This personalized approach provides:
- Creating a vaccine customized to the patient’s unique tumor antigens
- Educating the immune system to recognize and attack remaining cancer cells
- Providing ongoing immune surveillance against potential recurrence
- Working synergistically with other immunotherapy approaches
The vaccine preparation process takes approximately two months, requiring tumor tissue to be shipped to our specialized laboratory in Israel. Personalized vaccines represent one of the most promising frontiers in advanced melanoma immunotherapy, offering a targeted approach that complements our other treatment modalities.
ATACK Therapy: Targeted Immunotherapy With Donor Cells
Our proprietary ATACK (Allogeneic Targeted Activated Cancer Killer cells) technology uses specially prepared immune cells from a healthy donor combined with targeted antibodies that bind to proteins found on melanoma cells. These donor immune cells are intentionally different from the patient’s own cells, which allows them to recognize and attack melanoma cells as foreign invaders.
This approach is often more effective than attempts to activate the patient’s own weakened immune system. This method is our proprietary development and is most effective when the tumor has already been significantly reduced by other treatment methods and the patient has reached MRD (Minimal Residual Disease) status.
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT): Enhancing Immunotherapy Effects
As part of our comprehensive metastatic melanoma treatment, we integrate photodynamic therapy (PDT) to enhance the effectiveness of oncolytic virus treatment. This combined approach:
- Uses light-activated agents that selectively accumulate in cancer cells
- Creates reactive oxygen species that damage tumors
- Enhances local inflammation and immune response
- Works synergistically with oncolytic viruses
PDT performs a dual function: directly targeting accessible tumors and enhancing the effectiveness of our other immunotherapeutic methods. This makes our protocols particularly effective for treatment-resistant forms of melanoma.
Melanoma Immunotherapy Success Rate
The effectiveness of our comprehensive metastatic melanoma treatment approach demonstrates encouraging results in clinical practice. Our personalized protocols, beginning with oncolytic viral therapy followed by additional methods, show particular effectiveness in patients who did not respond to standard treatment.
Traditional Immunotherapy Statistics:
- Opdivo monotherapy: 37% 10-year overall survival
- Opdivo + Yervoy combination: 43% 10-year overall survival
- Approximately 25-40% of patients do not respond to standard immunotherapy
The melanoma immunotherapy success rate with our comprehensive approach has shown promising outcomes in our clinical experience.
Is Our Advanced Melanoma Immunotherapy Right for You?
Our integrated melanoma immunotherapy approach is most suitable for patients who:
- Have stage 3 or 4 melanoma requiring aggressive treatment
- Have progressed on standard checkpoint inhibitors
- Have resistance to BRAF inhibitors or combined BRAF/MEK therapy
- Seek innovative experimental treatment methods
- Are willing to receive treatment abroad that is unavailable in their country
- Are in remission and want to prevent melanoma relapse
Treatment Process
- Initial Consultation: Medical record review and online consultation with Professor Slavin
- Treatment Planning: Development of an individualized treatment protocol
- Oncolytic Virus Therapy: 14-day course at our international partnership clinics
- Follow-up Immunotherapy: Administration at clinics or at home with remote monitoring
- Long-term Support: Online follow-up and coordination with attending physicians
How to Apply?
To determine if our melanoma immunotherapy program is right for you:
- Submit an application: Complete the online form on the website
- Submit your medical documentation via email to [email protected]
- Schedule a consultation with Professor Slavin through Zoom
Professor Slavin personally reviews each case to determine the effectiveness of our experimental methods for your situation. Our patients are those who have exhausted standard therapy options and are seeking the best melanoma immunotherapy available worldwide.
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