Abstract

BACKGROUND: In patients with melanoma and asymptomatic brain metastases (MBM), nivolumab plus ipilimumab provided an intracranial response rate of 55%. Here, we present first report for patients who were symptomatic and/or required corticosteroids and updated data for asymptomatic patients.METHODS: Patients with measurable MBM, 0.5-3.0cm, were enrolled into Cohort A (asymptomatic) or Cohort B (stable neurologic symptoms and/or receiving corticosteroids). Nivolumab, 1mg/kg, and ipilimumab, 3mg/kg, were given intravenously every 3 weeks x4, followed by nivolumab, 3mg/kg, every 2 weeks until progression, unacceptable toxicity, or 24 months. The primary endpoint was intracranial clinical benefit rate (CBR; complete response [CR], partial response [PR], or stable disease =6 months).RESULTS: Symptomatic patients (N = 18) received a median of one nivolumab and ipilimumab combination dose, and had an intracranial CBR of 22.2%. Two of 12 patients on corticosteroids had CR; 2 responded among the 6 not on corticosteroids. Median intracranial progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 1.2 and 8.7 months, respectively. In contrast, with 20.6 months of follow-up, we confirmed an intracranial CBR of 58.4% in asymptomatic patients (N = 101); median duration of response, PFS, and OS were not reached. No new safety signals were observed.CONCLUSIONS: Nivolumab plus ipilimumab provides durable clinical benefit for asymptomatic patients with MBM and should be considered for first-line therapy. This regimen has limited activity in MBM patients with neurologic symptoms and/or requiring corticosteroids, supporting the need for alternative approaches and methods to reduce the dependency on corticosteroids.

View details for DOI 10.1093/neuonc/noab094

View details for PubMedID 33880555