NEARLY half of patients with metastatic melanoma treated with a combination of the immune checkpoint inhibitors nivolumab and ipilimumab have survived cancer-free, underscoring the impact of immunotherapy in advanced melanoma. The landmark findings, led by researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, confirm the long-term benefits of this treatment, which was initially introduced nearly a decade ago.
The clinical trial involved over 900 patients with advanced melanoma, who received a combination of nivolumab, an anti-PD-1 therapy, and ipilimumab, an anti-CTLA-4 therapy. After ten years, 49% of patients who responded to the therapy remained disease-free—a survival rate unprecedented in this patient group. The study marks one of the longest follow-up assessments for melanoma immunotherapy, highlighting its effectiveness in maintaining long-term remission.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors work by enhancing the body’s immune response to detect and attack cancer cells. In this study, patients who experienced an initial reduction in tumor size had a notably high probability of achieving durable survival. Dr. Jeffrey Weber of NYU Langone Health, a leading investigator, noted that “this study confirms the transformative impact of immune checkpoint therapy on melanoma treatment.”
However, the therapy is not without risk, as many patients experienced immune-related side effects. While these adverse effects vary in severity, researchers are optimistic that advances in supportive care will continue to improve patient outcomes.
These findings reinforce immune checkpoint inhibitor combination therapy as a potentially curative option for advanced melanoma, offering new hope for patients facing this aggressive cancer.
Reference: Wolchok JD et al. Final, 10-year outcomes with nivolumab plus ipilimumab in advanced melanoma. NEJM. 2024.
Anaya Malik | AMJ
