Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Expands Its Reach in Metastatic Melanoma
Source: Targeted Oncology, May 2023
A number of novel immunotherapies, such as PD-1 inhibitors and targeted drug therapies with BRAF and MEK inhibitors, have become available for managing advanced melanoma.
With the emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors, targeted therapies, and other novel therapies, the outlook for malignant melanoma has undergone a drastic change from a few years ago. However, a significant portion of patients with stage III or IV melanoma who have undergone surgical resection remain at high risk for relapse.
A number of novel immunotherapies, such as PD-1 inhibitors and targeted drug therapies with BRAF and MEK inhibitors, have become available for managing advanced melanoma.1 Three randomized trials demonstrated that adjuvant therapy with a PD-1 inhibitor (pembrolizumab [Keytruda] or nivolumab [Opdivo]) was clinically beneficial for patients with resected high-risk melanoma compared with standard of care.2-4 At the moment, there is increasing interest in neoadjuvant immunotherapy for high-risk resectable melanoma due to recent reports showing significant efficacy.