Even after successfully removing melanoma through surgery, patients may be at risk for melanoma coming back. Ipilimumab (Yervoy) in the adjuvant setting reduces this risk by stimulating the body’s immune system to fight any remaining cancer cells.
Patients with stage III melanoma usually undergo surgery to remove the primary melanoma on the skin and the nearby lymph nodes. With ipilimumab as adjuvant treatment after surgery, patients can experience a longer relapse-free survival (RFS).
In a recent clinical trial, researchers studied the effectiveness of ipilimumab as adjuvant therapy in patients who had already had surgery to remove melanoma tumors. The results showed that ipilimumab extended the amount of time before cancer returned by an average of 9 months. The clinical trials are ongoing to assess the potential effect of ipilimumab on overall survival rates.
Learn more about adjuvant therapy for high-risk melanoma (stages IIB, IIC, III and IV).
Ipilimumab is an anti-CTLA-4 inhibitor, which is:
Ipilimumab blocks the activity of a molecule called CTLA-4, a protein that prevents T cells from attacking your normal body cells and cancer cells. The normal function of CTLA-4 is to act as a checkpoint on the immune system and prevent it from attacking the body in autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis (an inflammatory bowel disease).
By blocking CTLA-4, ipilimumab increases your immune system’s response to melanoma cells and tumors. The drug works to activate T cells so that they can multiply and attack melanoma cells anywhere in your body.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ipilimumab in 2011 to treat patients who have advanced stages of melanoma:
Ipilimumab may not be right for certain patients, such as those who are receiving active immunosuppressive therapy for an active autoimmune condition such as:
Patients should discuss ipilimumab and other immunotherapy treatments with their physicians to understand the potential risks and benefits of a particular treatment.
Patients receive ipilimumab intravenously (into a blood vein).
Because the dose of ipilimumab as adjuvant therapy is higher than the dose for metastatic melanoma, the side effects can be more serious. Patients should talk with their physicians to learn more about the increased side effects of ipilimumab as adjuvant therapy.
In the adjuvant setting, the goal of Ipilimumab is to reduce the risk of melanoma returning following surgery.
Melanoma treatments, like ipilimumab, have side effects, which can sometimes be serious. Patients should talk with their physician to learn more about the side effects of ipilimumab and other melanoma treatment options.
It’s important to keep in mind that not all treatments work for all patients. If you are interested in learning more about ipilimumab, here are some questions you should ask your physicians:
Patient Assistant Programs (PAPs) are designed so that you still have access to the treatments you need, in any financial circumstance. Learn more about the manufacturer’s patient assistance program and other options here.
Manufacturer’s Patient Assistance
Learn more about the latest, most effective treatments for patients who have advanced melanoma: