Low-Dose Ipilimumab/Pembrolizumab Reduces Toxicity in Advanced Melanoma

Source: Cancer Network, November 2015

A combination of pembrolizumab and low-dose ipilimumab appears to be active and to have a better safety profile than a combination of nivolumab and full-dose ipilimumab in advanced melanoma patients, according to a new study presented at the Society for Melanoma Research 2015 International Congress, held November 18–21 in San Francisco.

Pembrolizumab is a potent, highly selective, humanized monoclonal antibody against programmed death-1 (PD-1) that has shown robust antitumor activity against several advanced malignancies. In phase I testing, combination therapy with the anti–PD-1 antibody nivolumab and full doses (3 mg/kg) of the anti–CTLA-4 therapy ipilimumab was seemingly associated with improved response rates, but also led to increased toxicities, said Georgina Long, BSc, PhD, MBBS, of the Melanoma Institute Australia in Sydney, Australia.