ASCO 2019: Therapeutic Updates in Melanoma | Special Issues

Palbociclib Demonstrates Activity in Acral Lentiginous Melanoma Subtype

June 12, 2019

The CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib exhibited preliminary activity in patients with acral lentiginous melanoma associated with CDK-pathway aberrations, according to results of a small phase II trial that were reported at the 2019 ASCO Annual Meeting.

Continued Survival Benefits Observed With Encorafenib/Binimetinib Combo in Advanced Melanoma

June 12, 2019

Updated results from the phase III COLUMBUS trial show continued prolonged progression-free and overall survival with the combination of encorafenib and binimetinib compared with BRAF inhibition alone in patients with advanced/metastatic BRAF V600-mutant melanoma.

Neoadjuvant T-VEC May Reduce Recurrence in Operable Melanoma

June 06, 2019

Neoadjuvant treatment with the oncolytic immunotherapeutic agent talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC; Imlygic) led to significant improvement in 1-year recurrence-free survival for patients with resectable advanced melanoma compared with surgery alone.

Dabrafenib/Trametinib Combo Provides Lasting Control for BRAF V600-Mutant Metastatic Melanoma

June 06, 2019

Five years out, one-third of patients with unresectable or metastatic BRAF V600-mutant melanoma remained alive following treatment with dual targeted therapy with dabrafenib (Tafinlar) plus trametinib (Mekinist), and 1 in 5 remained alive without progression.

Cemiplimab Has Potent Activity in Locally Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

June 02, 2019

Among patients with locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) who were enrolled in the pivotal EMPOWER-CSCC-1 phase II study, cemiplimab exhibited substantial antitumor activity and induced durable responses similar to those experienced in patients with metastatic CSCC who were enrolled in the same study.