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Updated: May 22, 2025
Multiplexed Immunofluorescence Analysis and Quantification of Intratumoral PD-1+ Tim-3+ CD8+ T Cells
Published on: February 8, 2018
Neoadjuvant treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with melanoma: A real-life retrospective study
Dirk Tomsitz1, Petra Zimmermann2, Wolfgang G Kunz3
1Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Background:
Neoadjuvant treatment with ipilimumab and nivolumab has shown efficacy in melanoma patients with nodal metastases in clinical trials. Real world data on neoadjuvant therapies is lacking.
Patients And Methods:
This study investigates the effectiveness of neoadjuvant therapy in a real-world setting and included all melanoma patients who received combined anti-CTLA4/PD1 immunotherapy prior to resection. Pathologic and radiologic responses as well as treatment-related adverse events were assessed, and recurrence-free survival (RFS) was compared between patients with major pathologic response (mPR) and patients without mPR.
Results:
In total, 24 patients were analyzed, including patients with distant metastases and patients with prior adjuvant treatment. Median follow-up was 21.5 months. Upon histologic assessment, mPR was achieved in 50% (12/24) of the patients, including two patients with lung metastases and three patients who progressed after prior adjuvant anti-PD1 therapy. Radiologic response after neoadjuvant treatment correlated with mPR. No patient with mPR relapsed during follow-up (median RFS not reached) compared to six out of 12 patients without mPR (median RFS = 13 months, p = 0.005).
Conclusions:
Neoadjuvant treatment with ipilimumab and nivolumab is effective in real-world patients with different melanoma subtypes, different stages of disease and even advanced primary tumor.
