Nivolumab in the treatment of advanced melanoma

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years, a number of novel drugs, such as BRAF inhibitors, MEK inhibitor and anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte 4 antibody, have been shown to render significant clinical benefit, including improvement in overall survival in patients with advanced melanoma. However, a majority of patients will not be cured with these drugs. Most recently, monoclonal anti-PD-1 antibodies such as nivolumab and pembrolizumab have shown very promising results in patients with advanced melanoma.

Areas covered: This article discusses the mechanisms of action, rationale, clinical efficacy, and safety of nivolumab for the treatment of patients with advanced melanoma. Clinical trial data of a nivolumab-containing checkpoint inhibitor combination are also discussed.

Expert opinion: Nivolumab, a checkpoint inhibitor, represents a novel class of drugs which are capable of stimulating cytotoxic T lymphocytes, resulting in a high and durable response rate. The currently available clinical data suggest that nivolumab, as well as other anti-PD1 antibodies, is very likely to improve long-term survival of patients with advanced melanoma. Furthermore, nivolumab-based combination therapy will likely be a new standard for systemic therapy in patients with metastatic melanoma in the near future.

Keywords:

• anti-PD-1 antibody
• checkpoint
• immunotherapy
• melanoma
• nivolumab

Acknowledgments

Editorial assistance to the author was provided by Ms Lesley C Scott-Skye at California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute.

Declaration of interest

K Kim has received honoraria for serving as a member of the speaker’s bureau for Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.