Long-lasting responses under treatment with ipilimumab: an argument against maintenance therapy?

Abstract

Ipilimumab, a monoclonal CTLA-4 antibody, was the first drug improving overall survival in patients with metastatic melanoma. However, there are still unanswered questions concerning therapeutic regimes, e.g. if maintenance therapy is needed to achieve long-term response. We present three patients with metastatic melanoma who received ipilimumab after progression under chemotherapy. In all of these patients ipilimumab led to a long-term tumor control of at least 32 months. Interestingly, all of them developed severe autoimmune toxicity and ipilimumab treatment was discontinued after 1 respectively 2 cycles. The present cases demonstrate that a long-term response to ipilimumab can be achieved without maintenance therapy.

• Authors: Julika Dick, Alexander Enk, Jessica Cecile Hassel
• Journal: Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland) (Dermatology) Vol. 230 Issue 1 Pg. 8-10 ( 2015) ISSN: 1421-9832 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 25531526 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antineoplastic Agents
• Ipilimumab

Topics

• Aged
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Antineoplastic Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Autoimmune Diseases (chemically induced)
• Disease Progression
• Humans
• Ipilimumab
• Male
• Melanoma (drug therapy, secondary)
• Middle Aged
• Skin Neoplasms (drug therapy, secondary)