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.

Dabrafenib and Trametinib Both Approved for Advanced Melanoma

May 29th 2013

The FDA approved both dabrafenib and trametinib for the treatment of patients with metastatic or unresectable melanoma, as well as a companion diagnostic to properly identify the patients exhibiting the mutations that are targeted by these agents.

Translating Combination Radiotherapy/Immunotherapy From Dogs to Humans With Advanced Melanoma or Sarcoma

May 29th 2013

Arta Monjazeb, MD, and Michael Kent, DVM, from the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, describe an early phase trial exploring the potential of translating successful treatment from dogs to humans with advanced melanoma or sarcoma.

Combining Ipilimumab and Nivolumab Shows Promise in Advanced Melanoma

May 16th 2013

Combining the checkpoint antibodies ipilimumab and nivolumab led to deep tumor regression in approximately one-third of patients with advanced melanoma.

Early Results Robust for New PD-L1 Immunotherapy Agent

May 15th 2013

An antibody that targets PD-L1 to unleash the body's immune system has demonstrated a 21% response rate in a phase I study of patients with multiple solid tumors, setting the stage for an advance in immunotherapy with broad implications for treatment.

PD-1 Targeted Antibody Lambrolizumab Receives FDA Breakthrough Designation

April 25th 2013

Lambrolizumab, an investigational antibody designed to target the programmed death-1 (PD-1) pathway in patients with melanoma, received a breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA after promising results from a small single-arm study.

The Effect of Ipilimumab on Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Unresectable Advanced Melanoma

April 11th 2013

Patients diagnosed with melanoma are typically affected psychologically. Researchers summarized health-related quality of life (HRQOL) during the 12-week ipilimumab induction period in previously treated patients diagnosed with advanced stage III or IV melanoma.

The Economic Value of Ipilimumab as a Second-Line Treatment in Patients With Advanced Melanoma

April 3rd 2013

Analysis of the cost-effectiveness of ipilimumab compared with best supportive care in previously treated patients with advanced (unresectable or metastatic) melanoma.

Novel Oncolytic Virus Effective in Melanoma

March 22nd 2013

The novel immunotherapy talimogene laherparepvec has become the first oncolytic virus to successfully complete a phase III trial in advanced melanoma.

Lymphoseek Approved to Help Detect Lymph Nodes in Breast Cancer and Melanoma

March 13th 2013

The FDA approved the radioactive diagnostic imaging agent technetium Tc 99m tilmanocept (Lymphoseek Injection) to identify lymph nodes for potential removal in patients with breast cancer or melanoma.

Potential Treatment Combinations for Melanoma Identified Through Novel Screening Approach

February 4th 2013

A new drug screening method revealed that cholesterol-reducing statin drugs used in combination with cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors might serve as an effective treatment approach for certain types of melanoma.

CTCs Found to Be Predictive for Recurrence and Survival in Melanoma Patients

January 9th 2013

Circulating tumor cells can be a predictive blood biomarker for recurrence and survival in patients with stage III melanoma and may help identify who will benefit from aggressive adjuvant therapy.

Novel Cancer Vaccine Fails To Significantly Improve Overall Survival in Lung Cancer

December 21st 2012

Results of a large phase III trial testing the efficacy of the investigational vaccine L-BLP25 in patients with advanced lung cancer found that the vaccine failed to show a statistically significant improvement in overall survival

Peering Deeper Into the Black Box

November 28th 2012

Over the past decade, there has been an explosion of knowledge regarding the fundamental drivers of the malignant phenotype.

Nab-Paclitaxel Extends PFS Versus Standard Chemotherapy in Patients With Metastatic Melanoma

November 26th 2012

A phase III trial that compared nab-paclitaxel (nab-P; Abraxane) with dacarbazine (DTIC) in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma (MMM) found that nab-P nearly doubled the median time to progression-free survival (PFS).

Vaccine Promotes Immune Response in Ovarian Cancer

November 19th 2012

Interim data from a phase II clinical study of the dendritic cell vaccine CVac in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer showed promising signs of improving PFS compared with the observational standard of care.

Dr. Sekulic on Vismodegib for Basal-Cell Nevus Syndrome

November 6th 2012

Aleksandar Sekulic, MD, PhD, from the Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, discusses the administration of vismodegib for the treatment and prevention of basal-cell carcinoma in patients with basal-cell nevus syndrome.

Dr. Rotkowitz on Ipilimumab Plus Dacarbazine for Melanoma

October 26th 2012

Michael Rotkowitz, MD, from Cancer Treatment Centers of America, discusses a phase III trial that examined ipilimumab plus dacarbazine for patients with metastatic melanoma.

Five MEK-Related Questions for Jeffrey S. Weber, MD, PhD

October 12th 2012

Jeffrey S. Weber, MD, PhD, specializes in cancer immunotherapy and has been involved in numerous trials of clinical drug development, vaccines, and studies on autoimmunity and melanoma.

Rajni Kannan on the Side Effects of Yervoy and Zelboraf

October 12th 2012

Rajni Kannan discusses the importance patient education or managing the side effects associated ipilimumab and vemurafenib in metastatic melanoma.

The MEK Junction: Protein Presents a Ripe Target for Inhibitors

October 11th 2012

Though located far downstream of the extracellular trigger that initiates its signaling pathway, the MEK protein is no less significant a player in the cascade of events that promotes key cellular processes.