Melanoma-Specific Clinical Outcomes of Inpatient Immune Checkpoint Blockade Treatment

Little is known about patient outcomes with advanced melanoma following inpatient initiation or continuation of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB).

We conducted a single institution retrospective case series of advanced melanoma patients who initiated ICB as an inpatient (initial inpatient cohort, n = 9), or continued ICB as an inpatient after previously starting as an outpatient (outpatient then inpatient cohort, n = 5). One patient had a partial response to ICB initiated as an inpatient, but ultimately died of melanoma after 13.5 months. Median overall survival for initial inpatient cohort was 1.0 month (95% CI: 0.2-11.2), and 1.4 months (95% CI: 0.4-58.0) for the outpatient then inpatient cohort. Three patients were alive >6 months after inpatient ICB administration.

Despite overall poor outcomes, some patients may benefit from inpatient ICB. This study provides additional information for clinicians to appropriately counsel patients on expectations following inpatient ICB.