Immunotherapy Combination May Demonstrate Benefit in Patients With Cutaneous Melanoma
Source: The Asco Post, November 2024
Presurgical treatment with the novel drug vidutolimod and the PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab may improve tumor control in patients with stage III cutaneous melanoma, according to a recent study published by Davar et al in Cancer Cell. The findings provided insights that could help advance research on and support the development of vidutolimod for the treatment of cutaneous melanoma and other cancer types.
Background
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells augment the ability of T cells to eliminate tumors. Myeloid cells can suppress immune responses in tumors but can be targeted by multiple agents, including TLR agonists, to augment cancer immunotherapy.
Vidutolimod—which has not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration—targets the TLR9 pattern recognition receptor, a protein that plays a critical role in the initiation of innate immune responses to foreign threats. TLR9-targeting agents are often included in drugs and vaccines as a result of their immune-augmenting effects; however, little is known about how they work in combination with other cancer therapies.