Microwave therapy for the treatment of cutaneous melanoma metastases

The management of recurrent skin melanoma is often challenging due to acquired or primary resistance to immunotherapy; for many patients additionally, surgical excision of recurrence is unsuitable. This study evaluated a potential efficacy of microwave treatment for cutaneous melanoma metastases by comparing pre- and post-treatment changes over three weeks. RNA sequencing of tissue with HTG EdgeSeq system’s Precision Immuno-Oncology Panel (PIP) was undertaken from all samples. All treated metastases reduced in size following microwave therapy. Twenty five percent of participants showed an improvement in Dermatology Life Quality Index scores. RNA sequencing data revealed downregulated cancer-related markers in complete responders compared to partial responders. These findings provide evidence supporting the efficacy of microwave ablation for the treatment of advanced cutaneous melanoma.