[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/immunotherapy-and-melanoma\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/immunotherapy-and-melanoma\/","headline":"2 RCCA Oncologists Tell How Immunotherapies Are Increasing Survival in Advanced Melanoma","name":"2 RCCA Oncologists Tell How Immunotherapies Are Increasing Survival in Advanced Melanoma","description":"2 RCCA Oncologists Tell How Immunotherapies Are Increasing Survival in Advanced Melanoma August 3, 2026 Immunotherapies and other treatment advances have more than doubled the survival rate for advanced melanoma over the past 20 years, according to two board-certified medical oncologists with Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA), one of the nation\u2019s largest networks of oncology […]","datePublished":"2026-08-03","dateModified":"2026-08-03","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/author\/ceastway\/#Person","name":"ceastway","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/author\/ceastway\/","identifier":5,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/007b7979610c70c3cd4b24ed960fb78ff62c0b68401d393e79cb483d56812050?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/007b7979610c70c3cd4b24ed960fb78ff62c0b68401d393e79cb483d56812050?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Regional Cancer Care Associates","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/logo.svg","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/logo.svg","width":506,"height":228}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1432941680.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1432941680.jpg","height":483,"width":724},"url":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/immunotherapy-and-melanoma\/","about":["All Cancers","Melanoma"],"wordCount":1983,"articleBody":"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2 RCCA Oncologists Tell How Immunotherapies Are Increasing Survival in Advanced Melanoma\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAugust 3, 2026\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tImmunotherapies and other treatment advances have more than doubled the survival rate for advanced melanoma over the past 20 years, according to two board-certified medical oncologists with Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA), one of the nation\u2019s largest networks of oncology specialists, serving patients in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the Washington, D.C., area.Andrew Bernstein, DO, says, \u201cThe 5-year relative survival rate for distant melanoma, meaning cancer that had spread far from where it first appeared, has increased from 15% two decades ago to 35% in recent years. While that is still not nearly high enough, the breakthroughs that drove that improvement and new therapies now in development give us every reason to expect the rate to continue to climb.\u201dDr. Bernstein, who practices at RCCA\u2019s Riverdale, NJ, office, explains, \u201cSurgery is the first-line treatment for melanoma. Surgical excision typically is the only intervention needed for melanoma in situ, the term we use when cancerous cells are confined to the outermost layer of the skin, the epidermis. Similarly, surgery can be curative when invasive melanoma \u2013 cancer that has spread beyond that outer skin layer \u2013 is in its early stages. Surgery also is used to assess nearby lymph nodes for signs of cancer and to remove affected nodes. However, when melanoma is deeply invasive or has reached the lymph nodes, we consider additional approaches, including immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiation therapy. And these systemic therapies are at the forefront of our care plans when we\u2019re treating melanoma that has spread regionally or to distant parts of the body.\u201dEthan Wasserman, MD, who practices with RCCA at offices in Howell, Neptune, and Toms River, NJ, adds that while recent years have been marked by advances in all of the approaches used to treat invasive melanoma, the gains achieved with immunotherapies have been particularly dramatic.\u201cWhile the FDA approved two early-generation immunotherapies to treat metastatic melanoma in the second half of the 1990s, the modern era of melanoma immunotherapy really began in 2011, with approval of ipilimumab, or Yervoy\u00ae, which belongs to a class of immunotherapies known as checkpoint inhibitors,\u201d he notes.Dr. Wasserman explains that the body\u2019s immune system engages in constant monitoring, with specialized cells known as T cells on the alert for bacteria, viruses, cancer cells, or similar sources of harm.He continues, \u201cWhen T cells identify a threat, they either destroy it themselves or signal other immune cells to attack. Sometimes, however, the T cells get it wrong. Think of an alarm system that goes off and summons the police to your home not just when a burglar breaks a window but every time a strong wind rattles that window. In the body, such misreadings of the situation can cause immune cells to attack healthy tissues. To protect against that, proteins on the surface of T cells act as checkpoints, with the ability to \u2018switch off\u2019 the cells to guard against false alarms.\u201d\u201cHere\u2019s where it gets a little complicated,\u201d he adds. \u201cCancer cells can take advantage of this safety feature by creating proteins of their own that lock onto T cells\u2019 checkpoint proteins and effectively flip the switch to the off position, deactivating the T cells and allowing cancer to grow and spread undetected. Checkpoint inhibitor medications reverse this process, enabling T cells to once again recognize cancer and mount an attack.\u201dThe FDA approved ipilimumab for treatment of metastatic melanoma after a Phase III trial involving 676 patients showed that the immunotherapy increased survival by several months compared to another therapy. Since then, additional checkpoint inhibitors targeting different chemical checkpoints have been developed.\u201cSome of the largest improvements in survival have come from using two of these immunotherapies in combination with one another,\u201d Dr. Wasserman says. He notes, \u201cThe CheckMate 067 study compared outcomes when people with untreated advanced melanoma were treated with ipilimumab alone, with another checkpoint inhibitor \u2013 nivolumab (Opdivo\u00ae) \u2013 alone, or with a combination of the two. After 10 years of follow-up, median overall survival was 71.9 months with the combination treatment versus 36.9 months for nivolumab alone and 19.9 months for ipilimumab.\u201d\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cWe are able to offer people with advanced melanoma more treatments, more cause for hope, and better outcomes than ever before, and we expect that further progress is on the near horizon.\u201d  Andrew Bernstein, DO\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cSome of the largest improvements in survival have come from using immunotherapies in combination with one another.\u201d   Ethan Wasserman, MD\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBringing Treatment Advances to Community-Based Cancer CareDr. Bernstein says that the impact immunotherapies have had on people with advanced melanoma owes not only to the effectiveness of those medications but also to their availability in community-based care centers close to people\u2019s homes.\u201cTherapies that revolutionize the treatment of a deadly cancer command significant attention from the media, as well they should, but those scientific breakthroughs have been accompanied by a sort of \u2018quiet revolution\u2019 in which patients now have ready access to advanced treatments in their own communities, so that they don\u2019t have to travel to a major academic medical center in a large city to receive the latest in care,\u201d he says.He adds, \u201cThe oncologists at RCCA\u2019s community-based centers have extensive experience in using immunotherapies, targeted therapies, and other cutting-edge treatment modalities. We develop individualized care plans to offer patients the best possible outcomes and to maintain quality of life. We also draw on that experience to minimize and manage any side effects of immunotherapy, which can include fatigue, skin rashes, diarrhea, and joint pain.\u201d\u00a0Dr. Bernstein continues that RCCA\u2019s oncologists and their colleagues across the country are likely to have additional melanoma therapies to offer patients in the years and perhaps even months just ahead. \u201cThis is a very active area of cancer research, and RCCA is committed to offering patients the latest treatment advances, both through our clinical trials program and our rapid integration of newly approved therapies into our treatment regimens.\u201dThe Best Approaches to Melanoma: Prevention, Early Detection and TreatmentDr. Wasserman says that while the outlook for treating advanced melanoma continues to improve, prevention and early detection and treatment of skin cancers remain the cornerstones of protecting people\u2019s health.\u201cCommon sense measures are key, such as applying sunscreen, wearing protective clothing when you\u2019re going to be exposed to the sun for any length of time and \u2013 in particular \u2013 not using tanning beds,\u201d the medical oncologist says. He adds that childhood sun exposure is a risk factor for developing melanoma later in life, so that people who had sunburns in their early years should be particularly vigilant in monitoring for potential melanomas. Dr. Wasserman explains that people should scan their bodies periodically, using the ABCDE method to assess a spot or mole:A \u2013 Asymmetry: One half of the mole or spot does not match the other half.B \u2013 Border: The edges are irregular, scalloped, notched, or blurred.C \u2013 Color: The color is uneven and may include different shades of brown or black, or patches of pink, red, white, or blue.D \u2013 Diameter: The spot is larger than 6 mm (about the size of a standard pencil eraser), although melanomas can sometimes be smaller.E \u2013 Evolution: The mole is changing in size, shape, color, or elevation. It may also begin to itch, crust, or bleed.Dr. Wasserman stresses that people should see their primary care provider or dermatologist promptly if they identify a concerning mole. He also encourages people to consider having a dermatologist conduct a full body skin examination. \u201cThese exams are particularly important for people who have a history of multiple blistering or otherwise severe sunburns or a family history of melanoma,\u201d he says. The oncologist adds that while melanoma is significantly more common in fair-skinned people than others, the cancer can affect people with any skin tone or racial and ethnic background, making it important for all people to see a physician if they identify a suspicious mole.Dr. Bernstein says, \u201cThis year, approximately 112,000 people across the United States will be diagnosed with invasive melanoma. About three-quarters of those cases will involve localized disease, which carries a 5-year relative survival rate approaching 100%. While that rate declines for people who have regionalized or distant disease at the time of diagnosis, we are able to offer people with advanced melanoma more treatments, more cause for hope, and better outcomes than ever before, and \u2013 as noted \u2013 we expect that further progress is on the near horizon.\u201dFind Expert Skin Cancer Care Near You in NJ, CT, MA, and the Washington, D.C., AreaDr. Bernstein and Dr. Wasserman are among 90+ medical oncologists and hematologists who practice with Regional Cancer Care Associates (RCCA), one of the nation\u2019s largest networks of oncology specialists. RCCA has more than 20 locations near you across New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and the Washington, D.C.,  area. RCCA\u2019s cancer specialists see more than 30,000 new patients each year and provide care to more than 265,000 established patients, collaborating closely with those patients\u2019 other physicians. RCCA physicians offer patients innovative therapies, including immunotherapies and targeted therapy, as well as access to approximately 300\u00a0clinical trials. In addition to serving patients who have solid tumors, blood-based cancers, and benign blood disorders, RCCA care centers also provide\u00a0infusion services to people with a number of non-oncologic conditions\u2014including\u00a0multiple sclerosis,\u00a0Crohn\u2019s disease,\u00a0asthma, iron-deficiency anemia, and\u00a0rheumatoid arthritis\u2014who take intravenously-administered medications.To learn more about RCCA, call 844-346-7222 or contact RCCA today.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tReferencesAmerican Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2026.American Cancer Society. Melanoma Skin Cancer Stages. Available at https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/cancer\/types\/melanoma-skin-cancer\/detection-diagnosis-staging\/melanoma-skin-cancer-stages.html. Accessed July 19, 2026.Food and Drug Administration. FDA approves new treatment for type of late-stage skin cancer. March 25, 2011. Available at https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/fda-approves-new-treatment-for-a-type-of-late-stage-skin-cancer-118656794.html. Accessed July 17, 2026.Hodi FS, O\u2019Day SJ, McDermott DF, et al. Improved survival with ipilimumab in patients with metastatic melanoma. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(8):711-23.National Cancer Institute. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. Cancer Stat Facts: Melanoma of the Skin. Available at https:\/\/seer.cancer.gov\/statfacts\/html\/melan.html. Accessed July 19, 2026.Wolchok JD, Chiarion-Sileni V, Rutkowski P, et al. Final, 10-year outcomes with nivolumab plus ipilimumab in advanced melanoma. N Engl J Med. 2025;392(1):11-22.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMelanoma By the NumbersAll statistics are for the United States and, unless otherwise noted, for 2026.Estimated new diagnoses: 112,000Percentage of all new cancer diagnoses: 5.3%Median age at diagnosis: 67 yearsPercentage of patients with regional or distant disease at diagnosis: 15%Estimated number of deaths: 8,510Percentage of all cancer deaths: 1.4%5-year overall relative survival rate 2016-2022: 94.7%Estimated number of melanoma survivors in 2023: 1,573,288Source: National Cancer Institute. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. Cancer Stat Facts: Melanoma of the Skin. Available at https:\/\/seer.cancer.gov\/statfacts\/html\/melan.html. Accessed July 19, 2026.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\twe are here for you\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFor more information or to schedule an appointment, call 844-346-7222. You can also schedule an appointment by calling the\u00a0RCCA location\u00a0nearest you.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\trequest an appointment\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRELATED ARTICLES\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHow Is Hodgkin Lymphoma Different from Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIf you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma, you may be wondering how these blood cancers differ. They\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat Is Immunotherapy for Cancer? How It Works, Types, & Who Qualifies\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe immune system is a powerful force that helps protect a person from diseases and illnesses. With advances in cancer research, scientists have discovered ways\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat Are the Warning Signs of Blood Cancer You Should Never Ignore?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMalignant hematologic conditions, or blood cancers, are diseases that originate in the blood or blood-forming tissues. While these conditions have some features in common, they can\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRegional Cancer Care Associates is one of fewer than 200 medical practices in the country selected to participate in the Oncology Care Model (OCM); a recent Medicare initiative aimed at improving care coordination and access to and quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries undergoing chemotherapy treatment.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"2 RCCA Oncologists Tell How Immunotherapies Are Increasing Survival in Advanced Melanoma","item":"https:\/\/www.regionalcancercare.org\/news\/immunotherapy-and-melanoma\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]