Dr McKean on the Rationale For Evaluating LAG-3 Inhibitors in Advanced Melanoma
Source: OncLive, September 2023
Meredith McKean, MD, MPH, discusses the rationale for investigating the LAG-3 inhibitor fianlimab in combination with cemiplimab-rwlc in patients with advanced melanoma, highlighting the combination’s efficacy in both PD-1 inhibitor-exposed and –naïve populations, as well as the combinations its potential clinical significance within the advanced melanoma space.
Meredith McKean, MD, MPH, director, Melanoma and Skin Cancer Research Program, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, discusses the rationale for investigating the LAG-3 inhibitor fianlimab (REGN3767) in combination with cemiplimab-rwlc (Libtayo) in patients with advanced melanoma, highlighting the combination’s efficacy in both PD-1 inhibitor-exposed and –naïve populations, as well as the combinations itspotential clinical significance within the advanced melanoma space.
A phase 1, first-in-human study (NCT03005782) was conducted to evaluate the use of LAG-3 inhibition in combination with anti–PD-1 therapy to enhance treatment outcomes in patients with advanced melanoma. This approach was derived from the successes observed with other combination checkpoint inhibitors, such as ipilimumab (Yervoy) and anti-PD–1 agents, McKean explains. Although these combinations typically resulted in igh response rates, this often came at the cost of significant toxicity. In turn, this raised the question of whether response rates could be maintained with the addition of a LAG-3 inhibitor to a PD-1 inhibitor while minimizing treatment-related toxicity, McKean says.