Sequencing Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy in Melanoma
Karl Lewis, MD, medical oncologist, associate professor, University of Colorado, discusses sequencing immunotherapy and targeted therapy for patients with melanoma.
Karl Lewis, MD, medical oncologist, associate professor, University of Colorado, discusses sequencing immunotherapy and targeted therapy for patients with melanoma.
The timing of immunotherapy compared to targeted therapy is unknown at this point, Lewis says. It is important for a physician to know the molecular profile of a patient's tumor earlier rather than later in order to know what therapy options there are.
Clinical Pearls
Lewis says there is no clinical data to support if giving immunotherapy therapy is better before or after giving targeted therapy. Most melanoma specialists, Lewis says, will treat a patient with early metastatic disease that is asymptomatic with immunotherapy first so that they have the chance to have a long and durable benefit. However, if the patient does not respond to treatment, targeted therapies can still be used later on.
- Proper sequencing of immunotherapy and targeted therapy in melanomais unknown
