The age of enlightenment in melanoma immunotherapy. Issue 1 (22nd August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Albertini, Mark R.
• Is Part Of: Journal for immunotherapy of cancer. Volume 6:Issue 1(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-08-22
• Subjects: Metastatic melanoma -- Immunotherapy -- Immune-checkpoint blockade; Cancer -- Immunotherapy -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Immunological aspects -- Periodicals; Tumors -- Immunological aspects -- Periodicals; Immunotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.99406105
• DOI: 10.1186/s40425-018-0397-8
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2051-1426

Abstract

Abstract : An updated survival analysis by Callahan et al. published in the February 1, 2018 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology reported a 3-year overall survival (OS) rate of 63% for 94 patients with previously treated or untreated advanced melanoma who received ipilimumab and nivolumab as concurrent therapy in a phase 1 dose escalation study CA209–004 ( n = 53) or in an expansion cohort with the dose and schedule of concurrent ipilimumab and nivolumab now approved for patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma ( n = 41). While this 3-year OS rate of 63% in patients with measurable, unresectable stage III or IV melanoma is an impressive accomplishment that compares very favorably with historical metastatic melanoma survival rates, findings from larger phase 3 studies are needed to determine whether combination immunotherapy significantly improves survival more than single agent immunotherapy with PD-1 blockade. This Commentary discusses the transition from the dark ages to the age of enlightenment in melanoma immunotherapy and provides a roadmap for a better tomorrow for patients with metastatic melanoma.