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.

ILI Provides Valuable Option for Inoperable Melanoma Metastases

March 4th 2014

As melanoma becomes more prevalent and more lethal in the United States, a multidisciplinary approach for treating inoperable in-transit metastases has proved to be a viable and valuable option.

Weber Explores Advances in Metastatic Melanoma

February 21st 2014

In an interview with OncLive, Jeffrey S. Weber, MD, PhD, from the Moffitt Cancer Center, University of South Florida, Tampa, explored the utilization of molecular and immune-targeted therapies as treatments for patients with advanced melanoma.

Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Cancer: Inhibiting CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 With Monoclonal Antibodies

February 21st 2014

Inhibitory receptors such as anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed death 1 (PD-1) expressed on tumor-specific T cells lead to compromised activation and suppressed effector functions such as proliferation, cytokine secretion, and tumor cell lysis.

Dendritic Vaccine Improves Survival in Recurrent Glioblastoma

February 19th 2014

A personalized vaccine being tested as a therapy for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) improved patient survival compared with standard treatments

Visualizing Cancer Cells With the Help of High-tech Eyewear

February 17th 2014

High-tech eyewear could soon help surgeons remove tumors from patients with breast cancer or melanoma by allowing them to see the margins of tumors more accurately when a dye is used to fluoresce a tumor's borders.

Anti-PD-1 Antibody MK-3475 Advances Into Multiple Tumor Types

February 7th 2014

Merck announced the signing of three separate clinical collaboration agreements to evaluate the potential of its investigational anti-PD-1 immunotherapy MK-3475 across multiple tumor types

The Role of Anti-PD-L1 Immunotherapy in Cancer

January 29th 2014

Immunotherapy has become an increasingly appealing therapeutic strategy for patients with cancer, with many late-stage clinical trials demonstrating overall survival (OS) advantages in melanoma and castrationresistant prostate cancer.

Combined Vaccines Improve Survival in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

January 14th 2014

Combining two specific anti-cancer vaccines, rather than administering one as monotherapy, doubles the 1-year survival probability in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), according to the results of a phase II study presented January 14.

"N of 1" Research: Molecular Findings Create Urgency for New Drug Discovery Paradigm

January 13th 2014

There has been considerable discussion within the oncology literature during the past several years regarding the level of evidence required to consider a new antineoplastic agent an acceptable "standard-of-care" in routine disease management.

Dabrafenib/Trametinib Combination Approved for Advanced Melanoma

January 9th 2014

The FDA has granted an accelerated approval to the combination of the MEK inhibitor trametinib and the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib as a treatment for patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma that harbors a BRAF V600E or V600K mutation.

Dr. Kluger on the Challenges of Treating Melanoma

January 2nd 2014

Harriet Kluger, MD, associate professor of medicine (medical oncology), associate director, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program, Yale Cancer Center, discusses the changes and challenges of treating patients with melanoma.

Dr. Piperdi on the Stimuvax Vaccine in Lung Cancer

November 20th 2013

Bilal Piperdi, MD, from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, discussed a trial looking at a vaccine in patients with lung cancer at the 8th Annual New York Lung Cancer Symposium®.

Multidisciplinary Melanoma Program Facilitates Patient Care and Clinical Research

November 19th 2013

The Malignant Melanoma Program at Wake Forest Baptist Health employs a multidisciplinary approach for the management of patients with all stages of this disease. The goals of the program are centered on unequivocal excellence in all areas of care for patients with malignant melanoma.

MK-3475 Efficacy Expanded With Longer Follow-Up in Melanoma

November 18th 2013

The investigational anti-PD-1 immunotherapy MK-3475 has demonstrated an overall survival rate of 81% at one year in patients with advanced melanoma, according to additional data from a phase Ib clinical trial presented at the 10th International Congress of the Society for Melanoma Research in Philadelphia.

Dr. Kluger on Immunotherapy in Melanoma

November 15th 2013

Harriet Kluger, MD, associate professor of medicine (medical oncology), associate director, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program, Yale Cancer Center, discusses the future for immune therapies in melanoma.

New Adjuvant Regimens and Molecular Targets Emerge as Prime Research Focus

November 14th 2013

Adjuvant therapy for patients with advanced melanoma and the optimal use of molecular testing are among the most pressing issues facing oncologists who treat patients diagnosed with the disease.

Dr. Sondak on Ipilimumab in Melanoma

November 7th 2013

Vernon K. Sondak, MD, chair of the Department of Cutaneous Oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center, discusses the use of ipilimumab in the adjuvant setting for patients with melanoma.

Misdiagnoses and Sequencing in Melanoma

November 5th 2013

After decades with few available therapies, a flurry of FDA drug approvals has provided oncologists with a variety of options for treating patients with advanced melanoma.

Dr. Weber on Immunologic Activities of Targeted Agents

November 5th 2013

Jeffrey S. Weber, MD, PhD, medical oncologist, Moffitt Cancer Center, discusses the immunologic activities of targeted agents for the treatment of melanoma.

Dr. Rosenberg Accepts His "Giants of Cancer Care" Award

November 5th 2013

Steven A. Rosenberg, MD, PhD, chief of surgery, National Cancer Institute, professor of surgery, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, accepts the "Giants of Cancer Care" Award for his work in immunotherapy.