Nivolumab Injected Directly Into Spinal Fluid May Be Safe and Effective for Some Patients With Melanoma Who Have Leptomeningeal Disease
Source: The Asco Post, March 2023
Researchers have found that a novel approach to administer intrathecal and intravenous nivolumab has proven safe and improved survival in a subset of patients who developed leptomeningeal disease from metastatic melanoma, according to a new study published by Glitza Olivia et al in Nature Medicine.
The new findings represent one of the first-in-human trials of concurrent intrathecal and intravenous nivolumab in patients with melanoma who have leptomeningeal disease.
Background
Leptomeningeal disease is a complication of cancer—commonly derived from metastatic melanoma, lung cancer, and breast cancer—that can occur when cancer cells from primary tumors migrate into the cerebrospinal fluid and leptomeninges. These cells can quickly spread throughout the cerebrospinal fluid and cause a wide variety of neurologic symptoms. Roughly 10% of patients with stage IV melanoma are diagnosed with leptomeningeal disease.