Sequencing and Combining Immunotherapies in Melanoma
Howard L. Kaufman, MD, says that the oncology community is in its infancy in terms of selecting and sequencing immunotherapies for patients with melanoma.
Howard L. Kaufman, MD, Rush University Medical Center, says that the oncology community is in its infancy in terms of selecting and sequencing immunotherapies for patients with melanoma.
Kaufman says until researchers have a predictive biomarker to measure how a patient reacts, they have to use basic guidelines. T-VEC is a virus agent that can be administered in the office and has a good safety profile, with fatigue and fever being the most common side effects. For a patient to be eligible for T-VEC, their melanoma needs to be accessible for injection.
Clinical Pearls
Kaufman says that there is a lot of interest in combining immunotherapies and expanding immunologic response. There is currently a phase II study underway looking at the combination of T-VEC and ipilimumab.
- T-VEC has a minimal toxicity profile, with fatigue and fever being the most common side effects
- Combining immunotherapies may enhance responses
