Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes as a prognostic factor in malignant melanoma. Review of the literature.

Malignant melanoma represents the major cause of mortality among skin cancers, with increasing incidence and mortality rates worldwide. Despite the numerous public health campaigns and the efforts undertaken in the last decade regarding the establishment of a rapid diagnostic and an efficient treatment for these patients, the long-term prognosis has not been significantly improved. Thus, numerous studies were conducted in order to establish a more accurate prognosis, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) being considered in many studies as independent prognostic factors of lymph node metastasis and overall survival in patients with melanoma. Moreover, immunotherapy has been intensively studied and evolved in recent times, and represents a promising treatment option for patients with advanced stage (metastatic) malignant melanoma. In this review article, we provided a literature overview on the histological classification, the history and the essential role of TILs, as well as the implications of regulatory T (Treg) cells and FOX P3 transcription factor in malignant melanoma.