Encouraging Intolerance

The monoclonal antibody ipilimumab improved overall survival in patients with treatment-resistant metastatic melanoma.

To date, no randomized phase 3 trial has shown any therapy to improve overall survival in patients with metastatic melanoma. Immunotherapy has been a mainstay of melanoma treatment and research, although results with interferon have generated mixed enthusiasm. Ipilimumab (Ipi) is a fully humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the CTLA-4 protein, reducing tumor tolerance and promoting antitumor immunity. Researchers randomly assigned 676 patients with unresectable stage III or stage IV tumors to one of three treatment regimens: 403 received Ipi plus gp100 (a minimally effective vaccine), 137 received Ipi alone, and 136 received gp100 alone (the control group).

The median overall survival in months was 10.0 in the Ipi-plus-gp100 group (95% …

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)