Efficacy of ipilimumab after anti-PD-1 therapy in sequential treatment of metastatic melanoma patients - Real world evidence

Abstract

PurposeImmunotherapy has become a standard treatment option for patients with metastatic melanoma, and the use of checkpoint inhibitors significantly improves the treatment outcomes in this group. Patients and methodsA total of 116 patients with metastatic melanoma were enrolled in the study. In the first line, they were treated with an anti-PD-1 inhibitor (nivolumab or pembrolizumab), following which ipilimumab was used as the second-line therapy. ResultsBRAF mutation was detected in 12 patients (10%). The median progression-free survival (PFS) of ipilimumab treatment was 2.8 months, the overall survival (OS) was 5.1 months. The rate of 6-month survival was 45%, 1-year survival was 24%, and 2-year survival was 3%. The responses to treatment were: complete response in 2 cases (2%), partial response in 7 cases (6%), stable disease in 39 cases (34%). In multivariate analysis, normal levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were associated with a longer median OS and PFS (p = 0.02 and p = 0.009, respectively), while 2 or less number of metastatic locations and the presence of BRAF mutations were correlated with a longer OS (p = 0.041 and p = 0.024, respectively). ConclusionsIpilimumab could be considered after anti-PD-1 treatment. Treatment with ipilimumab following anti-PD-1 therapy showed beneficial effects in patients with normal levels of LDH, 2 or less number of metastatic locations, and BRAF-mutated melanoma. However, further studies are required to confirm our results as the study included a low number of patients with BRAF mutation-positive melanoma. No significant increase in toxicity was detected with the use of ipilimumab after anti-PD-1 therapy.