A plain language summary from pembrolizumab plus ipilimumab following PD-1 antibody failure in melanoma

WHAT IS THIS SUMMARY ABOUT?: In this article, we discuss the results of our clinical study that looked at the use of two immunotherapy drugs for the treatment of advanced melanoma. Melanoma is considered advanced when it is no longer curable with surgery. WHAT HAPPENED IN THE STUDY?: The two-drug combination, pembrolizumab and ipilimumab, was given to people with melanoma who's cancer had progressed. This study looked at how effective these two drugs were in terms of controlling the melanoma, as well their safety. These results from the study were then compared to the results from previous studies looking at melanoma treatment with ipilimumab on its own, which previously had been the most commonly used drug. WHAT WERE THE RESULTS?: The study, originally published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, showed that combination treatment with pembrolizumab and ipilimumab was more likely to be effective than ipilimumab on its own. Not all of the study participants benefited, but many of those who did benefit experienced long-term remission from their melanoma without needing more treatment. Around 1/3 of the participants in the study had their tumors shrink compared to previous studies, which showed that ipilimumab was expected to shrink 1 in 8 tumors. The rates of side effects were similar with the pembrolizumab and ipilimumab combination compared to ipilimumab alone.