Concurrent radiotherapy and ipilimumab immunotherapy for patients with melanoma.
Ipilimumab and radiotherapy are commonly used to treat unresectable and metastatic melanoma. Results from preclinical studies and case reports suggest a biologic interaction between these two treatments. To understand the clinical implications of the interaction, we carried out a retrospective study reviewing records of patients treated with ipilimumab and radiotherapy for melanoma at our institution between 2005 and 2011. The review included details of treatment, response, adverse events (AE), and overall survival (OS). Twenty-nine patients underwent 33 courses of non-brain radiotherapy between their first and last dose of ipilimumab. Immune-related AEs (ir-AEs) were observed in 43% of patients receiving ipilimumab at 10 mg/kg and in 22% of patients receiving 3 mg/kg; the frequency of ir-AEs was not significantly different compared with previous studies of ipilimumab alone. Radiotherapy-related AEs were significantly more common in patients receiving higher doses of radiation. Palliation of symptoms was reported by 77% of patients after radiotherapy. Median OS was 9 and 39 months in patients receiving radiotherapy during induction and maintenance with ipilimumab, respectively. In this retrospective study, concurrent ipilimumab and radiotherapy was neither associated with higher than expected rates of AEs nor did it abrogate palliative effects of radiotherapy or survival benefits of ipilimumab. Further studies to prospectively explore the efficacy of this therapeutic combination are warranted.
Authors' Affiliations: Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.
Christopher A
CA
Barker
Michael A
MA
Postow
Shaheer A
SA
Khan
Kathryn
K
Beal
Preeti K
PK
Parhar
Yoshiya
Y
Yamada
Nancy Y
NY
Lee
Jedd D
JD
Wolchok
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000074324:Ipilimumab; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000074324:Ipilimumab