Dr. Topalian on Biomarkers for Anti- PD-1 Therapies in Melanoma

Suzanne Topalian, MD, professor of surgery and oncology, John Hopkins Medicine, and director of the melanoma program, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, compares biomarker detection for anti- PD-1 therapies like nivolumab to anti-CTLA-4 therapies like ipilimumab for the treatment of melanoma.

PD-1 and PD-L1 blocking drugs are more active at the tumor site, says Topalian. To determine markers for PD-1 drugs , investigators must look at the tumor itself and correlate them with clinical outcomes. Anti-CTLA-4 therapies have a global impact on the immune response, so markers such as PD-L1 may not be relevant.