Healthcare with Confidence
Advanced Melanoma Treatment in Israel: Innovations and Adjuvant Therapies
Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer that can return even after successful surgery. For patients at high risk of recurrence, Israel offers some of the world’s most advanced therapies, including cutting-edge immunotherapy, targeted drugs, and innovative biological approaches.
This year Israeli oncology centers remain global leaders in melanoma treatment — combining world-class expertise, international clinical trials, and individualized care strategies.
What Is Adjuvant Therapy and When Is It Used?
Adjuvant therapy refers to additional treatment given after the primary therapy — usually surgery — to lower the risk of cancer returning. Even when visible melanoma tumors are completely removed, microscopic cancer cells can remain in the body and eventually cause relapse.
Doctors in Israel recommend adjuvant therapy to patients with high-risk melanoma, which typically includes:
- Tumors deeper than 4 mm
- Ulcerated melanomas
- Melanoma that has spread to regional lymph nodes
These patients have a higher chance of recurrence, and adjuvant therapy significantly improves long-term outcomes.
Leading Specialists in Melanoma Treatment
Among the internationally renowned experts:
Prof. Jacob Schachter – Head of the Ella Lamelbaum Institute for Melanoma and Immunooncology at Sheba Academic Medical Center, Chaim Sheba Hospital, Israel.
Ask Doctor Get Consultation Online
You can receive remote second opinions or fully planned treatment programs with Israeli melanoma experts.
FDA-Approved Adjuvant Therapies Available in Israel
The following medications are widely used in Israeli hospitals as adjuvant therapy for resected Stage III or Stage IV melanoma:
- Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) – A PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor that boosts the body’s ability to detect and destroy melanoma cells.
- Ipilimumab (Yervoy) – A CTLA-4 checkpoint inhibitor, sometimes combined with other immunotherapies.
- Tafinlar (dabrafenib) + Mekinist (trametinib) – A targeted therapy combination used in patients with BRAF V600 mutations.
These treatments are offered as part of personalized care protocols and may be combined depending on the patient’s genetic profile and disease stage.
Other Innovative Melanoma Treatments
- Microsurgical Excision (Mohs Surgery). Used mainly for early-stage melanomas in sensitive areas like the face. It allows for precise removal of the tumor while preserving healthy tissue.
- Immunotherapy. Checkpoint inhibitors such as nivolumab and pembrolizumab have transformed melanoma care by activating the patient’s immune system to fight cancer cells. They are used both in adjuvant and advanced settings.
- Targeted Therapy. For patients with BRAF mutations (~40-50% of melanomas), targeted therapies like dabrafenib and trametinib stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking the mutated pathway.
- Radiation Therapy. Though less common in melanoma, radiation may be used in certain high-risk cases, particularly for brain or bone metastases.
Breakthrough Therapies for Advanced and Refractory Melanoma
- TIL Therapy (Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes). One of the most advanced immunotherapies now available in Israel, TIL therapy harnesses the patient’s own immune cells found inside the tumor. These are isolated during surgery, multiplied and activated in a laboratory, and then reinfused to attack the cancer with renewed strength. Combined with Interleukin-2 and sometimes chemotherapy, this therapy is showing encouraging results even in patients with metastatic melanoma who have failed standard treatments.
- Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT). A pioneering technique, FMT involves transplanting gut microbiota from a donor who responded well to immunotherapy into a patient with resistant melanoma. Research shows that the gut microbiome can play a key role in immune responsiveness, and early trials in Israel have demonstrated improved outcomes in previously unresponsive patients.
Personalized Treatment Based on Genetics and Tumor Profile
Before any treatment begins, Israeli specialists conduct:
- Full genetic profiling (including BRAF, NRAS, and KIT mutations)
- Immunohistochemistry and PD-L1 status analysis
- PET-CT or MRI to assess the disease spread
- Personalized therapy planning based on patient performance status and immune markers
Remote Consultations for International Patients
You can send medical records, biopsy results, and imaging to receive:
- Expert second opinions
- A detailed written treatment plan
- Access to clinical trials or specialized therapies in Israel
Looking Ahead: Is Melanoma Becoming Curable?
Today, thanks to checkpoint inhibitors, TIL therapy, and microbiome research, long-term remission — and even potential cure — is possible for some patients. Complete response rates are improving, especially in those with low tumor burden and normal lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels.
Israel offers one of the most comprehensive, up-to-date treatment programs for melanoma in the world — from early-stage disease to metastatic or refractory cases. With internationally recognized specialists, access to breakthrough therapies like TIL and FMT, and a personalized approach for every patient, Israeli oncology centers continue to set the global standard in melanoma care.
Contact us today for an expert consultation or to plan your melanoma treatment in Israel.
Dr. Zipel Dov – Head of the Oncological Surgery unit, Sheba Medical Center Tel Hashomer.
