Dr. Ernstoff Discusses Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in Advanced Melanoma

Marc Ernstoff, MD, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, discusses results from a study examining the combination of nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) in patients with advanced BRAF-mutated or BRAF wild-type melanoma.

The phase II study randomized patients to receive the combination of the two immunotherapy agents to ipilimumab alone. Researchers sought to determine the safety profile and progression-free survival (PFS) of the two arms.

Data showed a significant improvement in PFS in the combination arm versus the single-agent arm. Researchers also observed a complete remission rate in 22% of patients receiving the combination. However, autoimmune toxicities were higher in the combination arm versus the ipilimumab alone arm, and should be treated aggressively.