Date of Award
2022
Document Type
Open Access Thesis
Degree Name
MS in Physician Assistant Studies (PA)
Department
Physician Assistant Studies
First Advisor
Dipu Patel, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C
Abstract
Background: Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer that can lead to metastasis. The main treatment for melanoma is surgical removal — a wide excision. Patients with advanced melanoma require further treatment such as chemotherapy or immunotherapy due to the concern of continuous spread.
Purpose: Literature review of studies to examine if patients with advanced melanoma, treated with immunotherapy, enjoy better overall survival rates than patients treated with chemotherapy?
Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using using the search terms <(advanced melanoma) AND (immunotherapy)) AND (chemotherapy)) AND (skin cancer)>. Inclusion criteria were studies that were related to immunotherapy and chemotherapy among advanced melanoma patients. Exclusion criteria were studies that were completed more than five years ago, free text was available, other languages besides English, non-human species, and any patient under the age of 18 years old.
Conclusions: Immunotherapy is a more sustainable option for treating patients with advanced melanoma. It has been proven that immunotherapy offers patients better outcomes versus treating advanced melanoma with chemotherapy.
Identifier
SC 11.PAS.2022.Abro.N
Recommended Citation
Abro, Nadeline, "Immunotherapy versus Chemotherapy: Which Treatment Offers Better Survival to Adults with Advanced Melanoma?" (2022). Theses and Graduate Projects. 1247.
https://idun.augsburg.edu/etd/1247