Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab Is Safe and Effective in Resectable Stage III/IV Melanoma
Source: OncLive, March 2025
Single-dose neoadjuvant pembrolizumab was safe with no surgical delays and boosted MPR rates in resectable melanoma.
Single-dose neoadjuvant pembrolizumab (Keytruda) proved to be tolerable and practical for the treatment of patients with resectable stage III or IV melanoma, according to data from a study presented during a press briefing ahead of the 2025 Society of Surgical Oncology Annual Meeting.
Data from the study demonstrated that patients who received neoadjuvant pembrolizumab prior to surgery (n = 52) did not experience surgical morbidity at a rate of 71.2%. Patients experienced outpatient or inpatient management at rates of 26.9% and 1.9%, respectively. The median time to the first dose of pembrolizumab was 23 days and most patients were able to initiate adjuvant therapy (98%).