In patients with metastatic melanoma, the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, a form of immunotherapy, significantly extends long-term survival. In one clinical trial, half of the participants survived more than ten years.
- Immunotherapy involves activating the immune system to fight cancer cells.
- In the context of metastatic melanoma, this treatment considerably improves patient survival.
- While the median survival was six months, one study shows that it can exceed ten years with this type of medication.
Immunotherapy consists, in a way, of training the body to fight cancer. “Instead of directly attacking tumor cells as chemotherapy or radiotherapy does, this therapeutic approach consists of activating the patient’s immune system, to help it recognize cancer cells and lead to their destruction.specifies Inserm. This innovative method has shown its effectiveness on several occasions. Recently, researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine and the Dana Farber Cancer Center have proven that it significantly improves the survival of patients with metastatic melanoma. This term refers to a stage of skin cancer, when it has spread to other organs.
Metastatic melanoma: a combination of immunotherapy treatments
“In 2011, the median survival of patients with metastatic melanoma was only six and a half months, specify the authors. However, the emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors, which facilitate the immune system’s ability to attack cancer, as a treatment option has gradually begun to increase survival..” In their work, they followed the 945 patients for ten years, on average. All were treated with a combination of immunotherapy drugs, nivolumab and ipilimumab. These treatments make it possible to block proteins called immune checkpoints for fight against cancer.
Immunotherapy has significantly extended patient survival
“Subsequent analyzes of patient outcomes three, five and six and a half years after trial initiation demonstrated that the effect persisted for several years for patients who responded to treatment.note the authors. Median survival for this group was just over six years, and those free of cancer progression at three years have a high probability of remaining alive and disease-free 10 years after the start of the trial. As time passes, metastatic melanoma cancer survivors become increasingly likely to die from other causes, a “indication of long-term treatment success” according to scientists.
A combination of treatments safe for patients
At the same time, the trial demonstrated that the treatment was well tolerated by the participants. No alert on the safety of the treatment for health has been made. “Some doctors feared that treatment-related health problems could emerge later because patients must continue taking the drugs long-term.”specify the authors.
Dr. Jedd Wolchok, first author of the study, is pleased with these results. “We can now say that half of the patients treated with this combination therapy will live 10 years or more without worrying about dying from metastatic melanoma.”he concludes.
