Phase 2 RCT | Neoadjuvant–adjuvant pembrolizumab improves event-free survival vs. adjuvant-only therapy in advanced melanoma
6 Mar, 2023 | 14:11h | UTCSummary:
This phase 2 clinical trial evaluated whether giving pembrolizumab before and after surgery (neoadjuvant-adjuvant therapy) would increase event-free survival in patients with resectable stage III or IV melanoma, compared to adjuvant therapy alone. The trial involved 313 patients, with 154 in the neoadjuvant-adjuvant group and 159 in the adjuvant-only group.
At a median follow-up of 14.7 months, the neoadjuvant-adjuvant group had significantly longer event-free survival than the adjuvant-only group, with similar rates of adverse events between groups, suggesting that pembrolizumab given both before and after surgery may be an effective treatment option for these patients.
Article: Neoadjuvant–Adjuvant or Adjuvant-Only Pembrolizumab in Advanced Melanoma – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
News Release: Neoadjuvant immunotherapy improves outlook in high-risk melanoma – MD Anderson Cancer Center
Commentary on Twitter
Patients who received 3 doses of pembrolizumab before surgery and 15 doses after surgery had significantly longer event-free survival than those who received adjuvant-only therapy with 18 doses after surgery. https://t.co/qmMPV4gvSj#SkinCancer pic.twitter.com/69TDuyPAg7
— NEJM (@NEJM) March 4, 2023