Clinical Trial: CD8+ T Cell Imaging During Immunotherapy Before Surgery in People with Melanoma

Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, March 2022

Full Title
CD8+ Cell Imaging During Neoadjuvant ImmunoTherapy (The C-IT Neo Trial)

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of giving nivolumab and ipilimumab immunotherapy before surgery in people with melanoma that will be surgically removed. It is hoped that these medications can reduce tumor size by destroying parts of the tumor before surgery and prevent disease from coming back after surgery. Both drugs work by boosting the power of the immune system to find and kill cancer cells. They are typically used to treat inoperable or metastatic melanoma; their use before surgery is considered investigational. Both are given intravenously (by vein).

During this study, researchers will also see whether PET/CT (positron emission tomography/computed tomography) scans using an experimental imaging agent called 89Zr-Df-crefmirlimab may be an effective way for identifying white blood cells called CD8+ T cells. These white blood cells are commonly found around and attached to cancer cells and play an active role in the immune response to cancer. Tracking the amount and location of CD8+ T cells may help doctors learn more about a patient’s cancer and the body’s response to immunotherapy.

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