Immunomodulatory therapy for melanoma: ipilimumab and beyond. Review uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • In 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first new therapy for melanoma in more than a decade, ipilimumab (Yervoy). Ipilimumab is a novel antibody that blocks cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), a regulatory molecule expressed on activated T cells. Blockade of this important immune checkpoint can lead to durable tumor regression, and phase III studies show an overall survival benefit for patients with advanced melanoma. During the clinical development of ipilimumab, several unique features of this immunotherapy were identified, including the remarkable durability of responses and a distinct side-effects profile. We review the preclinical and clinical development of CTLA-4-blocking antibodies and describe current practices using ipilimumab for the treatment of advanced melanoma. Unique clinical issues related to ipilimumab will be summarized. Lastly, we will briefly preview combination therapies that incorporate ipilimumab and new checkpoint-targeting antibodies currently in clinical development.

publication date

  • March 1, 2013

Research

keywords

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Immunomodulation
  • Melanoma
  • Skin Neoplasms

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC3653249

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84874255652

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2012.08.006

PubMed ID

  • 23438382

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 31

issue

  • 2