This is a Phase 2, single-arm study of nivolumab combined with ipilimumab in subjects with previously untreated, unresectable or metastatic uveal melanoma. Previous studies with immunotherapy have shown promising results and this synergistic combination was very effective in other tumors. This study will allow for further characterization of the safety and clinical activity of nivolumab combined with ipilimumab in subjects with uveal melanoma.
Uveal melanoma is a rare disease, accounting for 0.1% of all cancer deaths. This disease arises from melanocytes of the uveal tract and is the most common primary intraocular tumor in adults, with an incidence estimated at 0.6 per 100,000 persons/year in the Western population and seems to have remained stable over time. Metastases in uveal melanoma appear in 6.5%-35% of the patients during the first decade. The clinical and metastatic behavior differs from cutaneous melanoma because of its initially purely hematogenous dissemination and its tendency to metastasize to the liver. Furthermore, the liver is almost a "sentinel lymph node" for uveal melanoma, because it is affected in 95% of patients and it is the sole site of metastasis in most cases. This specific ocular-hepatic tropism remains unexplained. When liver metastases develop, the prognosis is poor and life expectancy is reduced to less than 6 months in the absence of treatment. Only few prognostic factors for survival have been identified. Age, short time interval to metastases development, and tumor burden in the liver have shown a negative impact on survival, whereas patients diagnosed at regular follow-up survive significantly longer, probably due to the earlier diagnosis. Several loco-regional treatment options can be considered if metastases are confined to the liver, including partial hepatic resection or radiofrequency ablation. Curative resection is possible in only a small fraction of patients due to the number, location or size of the metastases. Systemic chemotherapy is usually unsuccessful in metastatic uveal melanoma and results were recently reviewed showing an Overall Response Rate of 4,6 %with 95% CI 3.3-6.3%. There is no proof that conventional chemotherapy prolongs survival with most studies reporting OS between 5 and 12 months. Most therapies are derived from the experience extrapolated from cutaneous melanoma. Only few chemotherapeutic regimens have been studied in phase II trials such as bleomycin /vincristine/ lomustine /dacarbazine (BOLD), fotemustine,9-nitrocamptothecin, temozolomide, bendamustine, gemcitabine/treosulfan, cisplatin/gemcitabine/treosulfan, and dacarbazine/treosulfan with poor results that range from 0 to 15% response rate and less than 12 months overall survival with first line therapy. A phase III trial randomizing patients to chemotherapy or Best Suportive Care (BSC) is not expected to be performed because of difficulty in recruiting due to the low incidence of disease. In the other hand, the best understanding of the biology of cancer disease has allowed us to identify pathways that are important in mechanisms of proliferation, survival or dissemination. Recently Guanine Nucleotide-Binding Protein G (GNAQ) gene oncogenic mutation has been identified in close to 50% of primary uveal melanomas. The emergence of newer agents that target this or other pathways (such as selumetinib, sunitinib, imatinib, vorinostat, antiangiogenics) have resulted in multiple small studies that up to date have failed to show a clear superiority against chemotherapy. To summarize, patients with metastatic uveal melanoma should be included in clinical trials evaluating other options with newer agents with potentially less toxicity and greater efficacy than conventional chemotherapy.
Ipilimumab every 3 weeks for a total of four doses (Cycles 1 and 2)
Nivolumab every 3 weeks for a total of four doses (Cycles 1 and 2) followed by Nivolumab every 2 weeks
Hospital Son Espases
Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
ICO Hospitalet
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
H. Insular de Canarias
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Hospital La Paz
Madrid, Spain
Overall Survival at 12 months
Percentage of patients alive at 1-year from first dose of treatment.
Time frame: 12 months after treatment start
Overall survival at 24 months.
Percentage of patients alive at 2-years from first dose of treatment.
Time frame: 24 months
Progression Free Survival (PFS)
Percentage of patients without progression of disease at month 3, according RECIST 1.1 criteria.
Time frame: 3 months
Global PFS according to RECIST 1.1 criteria.
Percentage of patients without progression of disease at month throughout follow-up, according RECIST 1.1 criteria.
Time frame: From date of randomization until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 48 months
Objective Response Rate (ORR)
Respose to treatment according to RECIST 1.1 criteria
Time frame: 12 months
Disease Control Rate
Percentage of patients with disease control
Time frame: From date of randomization until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 48 months
Duration of response
Length of time between date of evidenced response and progression of disease or death
Time frame: From date of randomization until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 48 months
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
52
H. U. Virgen de la Victoria
Málaga, Spain
Clínica Universidad de Navarra
Pamplona, Spain
H. U. Clínico de Santiago
Santiago, Spain
H.U. Virgen Macarena
Seville, Spain
Hospital General Universitario de Valencia
Valencia, Spain
H. C. U. de Valladolid
Valladolid, Spain