New publications

 Melanoma of the skin ranks as the fifth most prevalent cancer type, representing 5.0% of all new cancer diagnoses and 1.3% of deaths. Once skin melanoma spreads from its primary site, curing it becomes unlikely due to its aggressive nature, posing a significant treatment challenge.

The standard treatment for advanced skin melanoma involves immunotherapy using PD-1 inhibitors like nivolumab or CTLA-4 inhibitors. A noteworthy development occurred in March 2022 when the FDA approved combination therapy with nivolumab and relatlimab, an antibody targeting lymphocyte-activation gene 3.

Despite this advancement, there are few studies on the effectiveness of treating extensive multivisceral metastatic melanoma with nivolumab plus relatlimab resulting in a complete clinical response.

To bridge this research gap, Dr. Shannon Orr, professor of Surgery and division chief in the Department of Surgical Oncology, along with his co-authors, recently published their study titled “Complete Remission of Metastatic Melanoma of the Scalp Following Treatment with Nivolumab Plus Relatlimab.”

Their findings indicated that a patient with metastatic melanoma of the scalp achieved complete remission after receiving treatment with a combination of nivolumab and relatlimab. Ultimately, the study highlights the potential effectiveness of this combination therapy in treating metastatic melanoma, particularly in challenging areas such as the scalp.

Publication citation:
McMinn, M. E., Brister, K. A., Orr, W. S., Sheehan, N. T. & Christopher, W. O. (2024, March 29). Complete Remission of Metastatic Melanoma of the Scalp Following Treatment with Nivolumab Plus Relatlimab. The American Surgeon. DOI: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00031348241241642