Nivolumab and Urelumab Active in Melanoma Regardless of PD-L1 Status

In conjunction with urelumab, nivolumab may be an effective treatment for patients with advanced or metastatic melanoma, according to a press release from Bristol-Myers Squibb.¹

Results from a phase 1/2 study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02534506) of urelumab and nivolumab for patients with a hematologic or solid cancer indicate that 18 of 46 patients with melanoma enrolled to this study had a confirmed objective response.

The response rates were similar regardless of PD-L1 status: 50% of PD-L1 positive and 47% of PD-L1 negative patients achieved a confirmed objective response.

There was no significant increase of treatment-related toxicity among patients who received urelumab plus nivolumab compared to that with nivolumab alone.

Sixty-three percent of patients in the melanoma cohort had a treatment-related adverse event, including fatigue, increased alanine transaminase (ALT), anemia, and increased aspartate transaminase (AST).

Reference

1. Phase 1/2 data combining urelumab with Opdivo (nivolumab) in hematologic and solid tumors suggest increased antitumor effect in patients with melanoma. Bristol-Myers Squibb website. http://news.bms.com/press-release/bmy/phase-12-data-combining-urelumab-opdivo-nivolumab-hematologic-and-solid-tumors-sug. Updated November 12, 2016. Accessed November 17, 2016.