Karl Lewis, MD

Karl Lewis, MD, medical oncologist, associate professor, University of Colorado, discusses sequencing immunotherapy and targeted therapy for patients with melanoma.

The timing of immunotherapy compared to targeted therapy is unknown at this point, Lewis says. It is important for a physician to know the molecular profile of a patient's tumor earlier rather than later in order to know what therapy options  there are.

Lewis says there is no clinical data to support if giving immunotherapy therapy is better before or after giving targeted therapy. Most melanoma specialists, Lewis says, will treat a patient with early metastatic disease that is asymptomatic with immunotherapy first so that they have the chance to have a long and durable benefit. However, if the patient does not respond to treatment, targeted therapies can still be used later on.

Proper sequencing of immunotherapy and targeted therapy in melanomais unknown

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Sequencing Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy in Melanoma

Karl Lewis, MD, medical oncologist, associate professor, University of Colorado, discusses new and emerging treatments for metastatic melanoma.

Lewis says the list of new and emerging treatments for metastatic melanoma has grown due to the tremendous advancements in the field over the last couple of years.

In the immunotherapy field, Lewis says, ipilimumab showed a survival advantage for the first time in patients with melanoma. Progress is also being made with the development of PD-1 antibodies and PD-1 ligand antibodies.

There have also been developments in molecular targeted therapies, Lewis says. Agents targeting the RAS/RAF pathway, BRAF inhibitors and MEK inhibitors are in development as well. Lewis thinks the combination of BRAF plus MEK inhibitors is exciting.

Advancements in the filed of metastatic melanoma has lead to a growing list of new and emerging treatments for the disease

The immunotherapy ipilimumab has shown a survival advantage in patients with melanoma and progress is being made in the development of PD-1 and PD-1 ligand antibodies

Targeted therapies, such as agents targeting the RAS/RAF pathway, BRAF inhibitors and MEK inhibitors are also being approved

Karl Lewis, MD, discusses new and emerging treatments for metastatic melanoma.

Karl Lewis, MD | Authors

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Sequencing Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy in Melanoma

New and Emerging Treatments for Metastatic Melanoma