Melanoma drug revs immune cells but cancer cells ignore it

benjiamin submitted, created time 1 year 2 months (researchnews.osu.edu)

A new study shows that an important drug used in the treatment of malignant melanoma has little effect on the melanoma cells themselves. Instead, it activates immune-system cells to fight the disease. The drug, called interferon alpha, is used to clean up microscopic tumor cells that may remain in the body following surgery for the disease. It is the only drug approved for this purpose.

Keywords: melanoma immune-system drug