Dr. Kluger on Toxicity of Nivolumab/ Ipilimumab for Advanced Melanoma

Harriet Kluger, MD, associate professor of medicine, Yale Cancer Center, talks about the toxicity of nivolumab and ipilimumab for the treatment of patients with advanced melanoma.

The trial showed extremely promising results, including one-and two- year overall survival rates of 85% and 79%, respectively. However, there was a grade 3/4 adverse event rate of over 50%. Increased communication and early-intervention when toxicities were identified resulted in improved quality of life for the patient, says Kluger.

If the toxicities were treated early with immune suppressants, most were reversible.