Anti-PD-1 Continues to Show Benefit in Melanoma

Pembrolizumab was useful for metastatic melanoma, especially when ipilimumab failed.

Several recent trials have documented extraordinary benefit from immune checkpoint therapies for melanoma, including CTLA-4 blockade with the anticytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated-antigen-4 antibody ipilimumab. In an open-label study, patients with advanced melanoma who had failed to benefit from ipilimumab were randomized to PD-1 blockade therapy with the anti-programmed-death-receptor-1 antibody pembrolizumab (anti-PD-1) at two dosing regimens.

A total of 173 patients with metastatic melanoma whose disease had progressed by 24 weeks after the last dose of ipilimumab were randomized to one of two doses of pembrolizumab (2 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg administered intravenously every 3 weeks). An objective response rate of 26%, the trial's primary end…

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)