Neoadjuvant treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with melanoma: A real-life retrospective study
Tomsitz D, Zimmermann P, Kunz WG, Neumann J, Siegmund BJ, Weiss BG, Kauke T, Sienel W, French LE, Klauschen F, Heinzerling L (2025)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2025
Journal
DOI: 10.1111/ddg.15632
Abstract
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.
Involved external institutions
Germany (DE)How to cite
APA:
Tomsitz, D., Zimmermann, P., Kunz, W.G., Neumann, J., Siegmund, B.J., Weiss, B.G.,... Heinzerling, L. (2025). Neoadjuvant treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with melanoma: A real-life retrospective study. Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddg.15632
MLA:
Tomsitz, Dirk, et al. "Neoadjuvant treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with melanoma: A real-life retrospective study." Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft (2025).
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