Combining Nivolumab With Radiation Shows Promise in Melanoma Patients With Brain Met

Source: OncLive, February 2016

Combining nivolumab (Opdivo) with radiation therapy may provide better disease control and prolong overall survival (OS) in patients with melanoma whose disease has metastasized to the brain, compared with standard current treatment, according to a recent retrospective analysis.

Researchers of Moffitt Cancer Center analyzed data from 26 patients with 73 brain metastases from two separate prospective clinical trials at the center. Radiation was administered prior to, during, and after nivolumab in 33 lesions (45%), 5 lesions (7%), and 35 lesions (48%), respectively.

According to study results, Kaplan-Meier estimates for local brain metastases control following radiation were 91% after 6 months and 85% after 12 months. Median OS from the date of stereotactic radiation and nivolumab initiation was 11.8 and 12.0 months, respectively, in patients receiving nivolumab for unresected disease. Median OS was not reached in patients treated in the resected setting.