title: Safety and efficacy of ipilimumab to treat advanced melanoma in the setting of liver transplantation.
abstract: Ipilimumab is a first-in-class immunological checkpoint blockade agent and monoclonal antibody against Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 (CTLA-4) that has demonstrated survival benefit and durable responses in patients with metastatic melanoma. To date, solid organ transplant recipients have been excluded from clinical trials with cancer immunotherapies on the basis of their concurrent treatment with immunosuppressive agents. We present the first case to our knowledge of a patient with advanced cutaneous melanoma receiving ipilimumab status post orthotopic liver transplantation with a partial response. Transaminitis was observed 4 months after administration of ipilimumab that resolved with close observation. No evidence of graft rejection has been observed to date. This case advocates for further investigation of the safety and efficacy of cancer immunotherapies in solid organ transplant recipients.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 630 W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032 USA.
authors.forename: Rita E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.affiliation: Melanoma and Immunotherapeutics Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 300 East 66th Street, New York, 10065 NY USA.
authors.forename: Alexander N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Shoushtari
authors.affiliation: The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, 177 Fort Washington Avenue, Suite 6-435 Garden North, New York, NY 10032 USA.
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Division of Liver Diseases, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1104, New York, NY 10029 USA.
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grewal
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, 400 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21231 USA.
authors.forename: Evan J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lipson
authors.affiliation: The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, 177 Fort Washington Avenue, Suite 6-435 Garden North, New York, NY 10032 USA.
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Carvajal