The Efficacy of Nivolumab in Advanced Melanoma

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Mario Sznol, MD, from the Yale Cancer Center, discusses the long-term follow-up results from a phase I trial investigating the anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody nivolumab.

Mario Sznol, MD, a professor of medical oncology at the Yale Cancer Center in New Haven, Connecticut, discusses the long-term follow-up results from a phase I trial investigating the anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody nivolumab.

In patients with previously treated melanoma, overall survival was 16.8 months, which compares well to other agents, Sznol suggests. Objective response rates were 31% with a median duration of response around 2 years, which are very high numbers, Sznol notes.

Nivolumab is a very well tolerated drug, Sznol says. The rates of grade 3/4 adverse events (AEs) were 14% with 5% experiencing select immune-related AEs. Only 6% of patients discontinued treatment due to toxicity. Pneumonitis caused concerns in earlier trials; however, proper side effect management prevented it from occurring.

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Additional activity was observed in several patients outside of those classified by RECIST criteria. A prolongation in stable disease was observed in 11% of patients with 4 patients experiencing unconventional responses, characterized by tumor growth followed by shrinkage. These data will ultimately be reflected in the survival curve in the future phase III trial.

  • In patients with previously treated melanoma, overall survival was 16.8 months with nivolumab
  • Treatment with nivolumab resulted in a 31% objective response rate with a median duration of response of approximately 2 years
  • Grade 3/4 AEs occurred in 14% of patients with 5% experiencing select immune-related AEs and 6% discontinuing treatment
  • Pneumonitis was effectively managed and did not cause additional mortality
  • Additional activity was observed in several patients outside of those classified by RECIST criteria
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