Melanoma

Hussein Tawbi, MD, PhD, closes his discussion by sharing some clinical pearls for fellow oncologists treating patients with metastatic melanoma.

A phase 1/2 study of KSQ-001EX will commence at MD Anderson Cancer Center following this investigational new drug approval from the FDA.

Hussein Tawbi, MD, PhD, explains that if a patient with metastatic melanoma and a BRAF mutation progresses after initial checkpoint inhibitors, either combination immunotherapy or MEK inhibitor therapy is considered, based on disease progression pace and pattern.

The phase 3 DREAMseq trial compared initial treatments of combination immunotherapy or BRAF/MEK inhibitors for B-Raf mutated melanoma, showing a 20% overall survival benefit at 2 years for immunotherapy as the first-line treatment.

Hussein Tawbi, MD, PhD, explains that for BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma, treatment options include checkpoint inhibitors, single-agent and combination IO therapies, and BRAF and MEK inhibitor combinations, offering varying response rates and progression-free survival periods.

During a Targeted Oncology™ Case-Based Roundtable™ event, Douglas B. Johnson, MD, MSCI, reviewed data for safety and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibition in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Hussein Tawbi, MD, PhD, presents the case of a 67-year-old woman with stage IV melanoma and shared his initial impressions.

Hussein Tawbi, MD, PhD, emphasizes the importance of patient education in managing adverse events from the treatment of metastatic melanoma with checkpoint inhibition, discussing symptom recognition, potential side effects, and treatment adjustments while ensuring team accessibility and patient communication.

RP2 demonstrated promising response rates and tolerability in the treatment of metastatic uveal melanoma, both as a monotherapy and in combination with nivolumab.

Over the past decade, the frontline treatment landscape for metastatic melanoma has evolved with studies like CheckMate-067 and KEYNOTE-006 highlighting the superiority of PD-1-based therapies over ipilimumab, and recent trials introducing new combination treatments.

Hussein Tawbi, MD, PhD, emphasizes that combination immunotherapies offer higher efficacy than single agent PD-1 inhibitors for metastatic melanoma; however, patient characteristics guide the choice of treatment regimen, with toxicities playing a key role.

During a Targeted Oncology™ Case-Based Roundtable™ event, Hussein A. Tawbi, MD, PhD, asked several participants to share their experiences treating patients with metastatic melanoma with nivolumab plus relatlimab. This is the second of 2 articles based on this event.

The role of immunotherapy continues to evolve for the treatment of patients with skin cancer, now with physicians able to choose between the use of single-agent vs dual immunotherapy treatments. In 2 separate Case-Based Roundtable events led by Alan Tan, MD, and Douglas B. Johnson, MD, MSCI, physicians considered these options for a patient with metastatic melanoma.

The RELATIVITY-047 trial evaluated relatlimab and nivolumab versus nivolumab alone in patients with metastatic melanoma, revealing improved progression-free survival, while PDL-1 status wasn't predictive of outcomes.

Hussein Tawbi, MD, PhD, explains that LAG-3 is a marker of T-cell exhaustion, and combining LAG-3 inhibitors with PD-1 inhibitors can reverse this exhaustion, enhancing T-cell effectiveness and showing therapeutic benefits in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Hussein Tawbi, MD, PhD, explains that for patients with melanoma without a BRAF mutation, first-line therapies primarily include immunotherapy-based (IO) checkpoint inhibitors, with PD-1 inhibitor combination therapies being the current standard of care.

Hussein Tawbi, MD, PhD, highlights the importance of BRAF mutations and LDH levels in diagnosing patients with metastatic melanoma and guiding treatment.

Results of from a subgroup of patients in the phase 2 C-144-01 study with advanced mucosal melanoma showed a clinically meaningful response to lifileucel after progression on immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Hussein Tawbi, MD, PhD, details the incidence rate of melanoma and that appropriate diagnosis includes an MRI to check for brain metastases and molecular testing for BRAF mutations.

Hussein Tawbi, MD, PhD, presents the case of a 78-year-old man with metastatic melanoma and shares his initial impressions.

A trial of intratumoral daromun and surgical resection for the treatment of patients with locally advanced, fully resectable melanoma, showed a clinically meaningful improvement compared with surgery alone.

During a Targeted Oncology™ Case-Based Roundtable™ event, Hussein A. Tawbi, MD, PhD, and participants discussed which first-line therapy they would recommend for a 78-year-old patient with metastatic melanoma and no BRAF-activating mutation. This is the first of 2 articles based on this event.

Positive findings from CheckMate-76K have led the FDA to approve adjuvant nivolumab monotherapy for the treatment of patients with completely resected stage IIB or IIC melanoma.

During a Targeted Oncology™ Case-Based Roundtable™ event, Michael B. Atkins, MD, discussed with participants what factors influence the choice of first-line immunotherapy for a patient with BRAF–wild-type metastatic melanoma.

Positive objective response results were demonstrated in the first stage of the phase 2 SCOPE trial. Now, 27 additional patients with advanced melanoma will be treated with SCIB1 and checkpoint inhibitors in stage 2.