Immunotherapy in Melanoma | Specialty

The OncLive Immunotherapy in Melanoma condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and expert insights on available and investigational immunotherapies in melanoma and other skin cancers. This page features news articles, interviews in written and video format, and podcasts that focus on updates with checkpoint inhibitors and the ongoing research with this type of treatment.

FDA Approves Pembrolizumab in Merkel Cell Carcinoma

December 20th 2018

The FDA has granted an accelerated approval to pembrolizumab for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma.

Adjuvant Pembrolizumab Approved in EU for Stage III Melanoma

December 18th 2018

The European Commission has approved pembrolizumab as an adjuvant treatment for patients with resected, stage III melanoma with lymph node involvement.

Cemiplimab Antitumor Activity in CSCC Sustained With Longer Follow-up

December 17th 2018

The monoclonal anti-PD-1 antibody cemiplimab continued to demonstrate considerable antitumor activity and durable responses in patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Dr. Tawbi on Evolving Treatment for Melanoma

December 3rd 2018

Hussein A. Tawbi, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses evolving treatment for patients with melanoma.

Dr. Hamid on the Inclusion of Patients With Brain Metastases on Melanoma Trials

December 1st 2018

Omid Hamid, MD, director of Research and Immuno-Oncology at The Angeles Clinic, discusses the inclusion of patients with brain metastases on melanoma clinical trials.

Avelumab Continues to Show Value in JAVELIN Merkel 200 Analyses

December 1st 2018

In an analysis of patient-reported outcomes of the JAVELIN Merkel 200 trial of avelumab (Bavencio), investigators found that there was a similarity in proportion of responders with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma based on clinical and patient-reported outcome endpoints.

Cemiplimab Explored in Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma

November 30th 2018

An ongoing phase II study evaluating the PD-1 inhibitor cemiplimab in patients with basal cell carcinoma may prove efficacious based on its activity in other advanced malignancies.

Dr. Triebel on Novel Immunotherapy Combination in Melanoma

November 30th 2018

Frederic Triebel, MD, PhD, chief scientific officer and chief medical director, Immuntep Ltd, discusses a novel immunotherapy combination in melanoma.

Triplet Therapy With Novel PD-1 Inhibitor Holds Promise in Melanoma

November 28th 2018

The addition of a novel PD-1 inhibitor to a combination of BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and MEK inhibitor trametinib (Mekinist) is being tested to determine whether the triplet is safe and effective for patients with metastatic or unresectable melanoma.

Dr. Tawbi on Checkpoint Inhibition in Melanoma

November 26th 2018

Hussein A. Tawbi, MD, PhD, associate professor, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the promise of checkpoint inhibition in the treatment of melanoma.

Dr. Weber on Duration of Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy in Melanoma

November 15th 2018

Jeffrey S. Weber, MD, PhD, deputy director and co-director of the Melanoma Program, NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, 2016 Giant of Cancer Care® in Melanoma, discusses duration of checkpoint inhibitor therapy in patients with melanoma.

Kirkwood Helped Chart Course of Adjuvant Immunotherapy in Melanoma

November 12th 2018

In the 44 years since John M. Kirkwood, MD began his career, he has seen melanoma become a growing field of research.

Adjuvant Options Arrive for Melanoma

November 9th 2018

The treatment armamentarium for adjuvant melanoma has expanded rapidly, which has left the treatment challenge of selecting between immunotherapy and targeted therapy without any head-to-head comparative data.

Dr. Ascierto on Choosing Combinations in Treatment of Melanoma

October 24th 2018

Paolo A. Ascierto, MD, director of the Unit of Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapy at the National Tumor Institute Fondazione G. Pascale in Naples, discusses how to choose between combination therapies in the treatment of patients with melanoma.

Long-Term Data Sustain Dabrafenib/Trametinib RFS Benefit in BRAF+ Melanoma

October 22nd 2018

Long-term follow-up from the COMBI-AD trial continued to show a significant relapse-free survival advantage for patients with resected stage III BRAF-mutant melanoma treated with adjuvant dabrafenib plus trametinib.

Engineered Anti-MAGE-A T-Cells Show Early Promise

October 21st 2018

Genetically engineered T-cells targeting a common tumor antigen appeared safe and demonstrated some evidence of antitumor activity in a first-in-human clinical evaluation.

Dr. Flaherty Discusses BRAF Inhibitors in Melanoma

October 11th 2018

Keith T. Flaherty, MD, director, Termeer Center for Targeted Therapy, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School, discusses BRAF inhibitors for the treatment of patients with melanoma.

Dr. Zarour on Unmet Needs in Melanoma

October 10th 2018

Hassane M. Zarour, MD, professor of medicine, University of Pittsburgh, discusses unmet needs in melanoma.

Gene Signature Developed for High-Risk SCC

October 10th 2018

Gene expression-based biomarkers associated with disease recurrence in patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma may help in identifying a population subset considered to have high-risk disease.

Dr. Postow on FDA Approval of Cemiplimab in Metastatic Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

September 29th 2018

Michael A. Postow, MD, medical oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the FDA approval of cemiplimab in patients with advanced or metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.