Article
ESMO 2014: Nivolumab Promise in Melanoma
Results from the CheckMate-037 trial showed a significant increase in duration of response in patients with advanced melanoma administered nivolumab as second- or third-line therapy
In the first phase 3 trial to be reported with the investigational immunotherapy nivolumab, the drug showed an "impressive" duration of response when used as a second- or third-line therapy in patients with advanced melanoma, said Jeffrey Weber, MD, from the Comprehensive Melanoma Research Centers of Excellence at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. These data have been filed for approval in both Europe and the United States, where the drug has breakthrough status.
Dr. Weber was speaking at a press briefing here at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2014, ahead of the presidential session where he presented preliminary results from the phase 3 trial, known as CheckMate-037.
The trial compared nivolumab with chemotherapy in 405 patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic melanoma who had previously been treated with (Yervoy). About 30% of these patients harbored BRAF mutations, and this group had also received treatment with a BRAF inhibitor. These patients currently have few treatment options, he commented.
Report on Medscape: http://bit.ly/1nAYMKI
