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February 19, 2025 – A groundbreaking clinical trial has revealed that a combination immunotherapy may significantly improve survival rates for patients with advanced melanoma that has spread to the brain. The seven-year follow-up results, published in The Lancet Oncology, indicate that more than 50 percent of patients who received this treatment as a first-line option achieved long-term disease control.
Advanced melanoma with brain metastases is notoriously difficult to treat, with current survival rates averaging just 16 weeks. However, the new trial suggests that combining two checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapies—anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4—could substantially enhance patient outcomes.
Professor Georgina Long AO, Medical Director of Melanoma Institute Australia and lead author of the study, hailed the results as a breakthrough in cancer treatment. “This proves we have achieved long-term disease control in this group of advanced melanoma patients,” she stated. “We are now confident these patients are cured, a term not used lightly in cancer. This combination immunotherapy should now become the standard of care for melanoma patients with brain metastasis.”
The randomized, phase 2 trial, conducted between 2014 and 2017, enrolled 79 patients. Among them, 36 received the combination immunotherapy (ipilimumab plus nivolumab), while 43 were treated with single-agent nivolumab. The follow-up data highlighted significant differences in survival rates:
- Progression-free survival: 42 percent with combination therapy versus 15 percent with single-agent treatment.
- Overall survival: 48 percent for combination therapy, compared to 26 percent for single-agent therapy.
- First-line treatment outcomes: Seven-year progression-free survival was 47 percent with the combination therapy and 14 percent with the single agent. Overall survival was 51 percent and 29 percent, respectively.
These findings mark a significant milestone in melanoma treatment, offering hope to patients diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma with brain metastases. Experts are optimistic that this approach will soon be widely adopted as a standard treatment protocol.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Patients should consult their healthcare providers for personalized treatment options and guidance.
