Dr. Grob on the Tolerability and Efficacy of Ipilimumab in Melanoma

Jean Jacques Grob, MD, PhD, professor of dermatology at the Hospital de la Timone, discusses the tolerability and efficacy of ipilimumab (Yervoy) for melanoma.

The ratio between tolerability and efficacy depends on the different dosages of ipilimumab in the adjuvant setting, states Grob. Three different dosages are currently being used: 10 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg, and 1mg/kg.

In the adjuvant setting, only 10 mg/kg has been studied so far, but studies are ongoing with all the dosages. The toxicity that has been observed in the adjuvant trial with 10 mg/kg was very high, explains Grob. Despite the very good impact on relapse-free survival and overall survival, there is a big debate—for many reasons—about whether it is reasonable to use the dosage in patients for adjuvant therapy.