Research
Microwave therapy for the treatment of cutaneous melanoma metastases – A pilot study
March 30, 2026
Malignant melanoma is the UK’s fifth most common cancer, and 10–45% of people with metastatic disease develop cutaneous metastases.
These are currently managed with options ranging from cryotherapy, radiotherapy, laser ablation and electrochemotherapy to immunotherapies such as T-VEC, interleukin-2, nivolumab and ipilimumab. This study, conducted at University Hospital Southampton, tested the Swift® microwave device for treating melanoma metastases. It enrolled adults with stage IV or inoperable stage III cutaneous melanoma who had at least three cutaneous metastases and for whom alternative treatments were unwanted or deemed inappropriate.