Something New, Something Old: Adding Vaccine to Interleukin-2 for Advanced Melanoma Improves Response

A gp-100 peptide vaccine added clinically modest but statistically significant survival effects in a small trial.

If ever there has ever been a blockbuster season for melanoma therapeutics, 2010–2011 is it. On the heels of ipilimumab approval and positive trial results for PLX4032 (vemurafenib), comes another apparently successful approach to advanced melanoma treatment using immunological therapy. Investigators conducted a phase III trial in which 185 HLA*A0201+ patients with stage IV or locally advanced stage III cutaneous melanoma were randomly assigned to receive the immune activating agent interleukin-2 (IL-2), alone or combined with a gp100:209-217(210 M) peptide vaccine. In an earlier trial (J Clin Oncol Jun 2009; 27:18S CRA9011), the combined treatment produced higher response rates than would be expected with IL-2 alone.

Response was seen in 9.…

Reviewing Author

Hensin Tsao, MD, PhD

Disclosures

Consultant / advisory board Lubax; WorldCare Clinical

EquityLubax

Grant / Research support NIH; Department of Defense; American Skin Association; Piramal

Editorial boardsBritish Journal of Dermatology; Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology; Journal of Investigative Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Chair, Skin Cancer and Melanoma Committee); American Board of Dermatology (Director)