Department of Dermatology, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashiku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
Department of Dermatology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, 216-8511, Japan.
Curr Oncol Rep. 2018 Mar 23;20(3):29. doi: 10.1007/s11912-018-0676-z.
Prognosis of patients with advanced melanoma is dismal with a median overall survival of about 8 months and 5-year overall survival from a diagnosis of metastatic disease of roughly 10%. However, immune checkpoint inhibitors have brought indispensable benefits to melanoma patients. Here we will review the recent clinical efficacy and adverse events of immune checkpoint inhibitors for melanoma patients.
The immune checkpoint inhibitors increase confirmed objective response and prolong progression-free and overall survival of the afflicted patients in association with maintaining their quality of life. Although diverse immune-related adverse events occur, most of them are manageable by appropriate immunomodulating agents. Clinical efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors continues even after discontinuation of drugs. Compared with conventional therapeutic options, the immune checkpoint inhibitors appear to prolong the survival of patients with advanced melanoma. Further clinical trials are warranted to determine whether their combinatory use with other treatment options may augment benefits or not.
晚期黑色素瘤患者的预后较差，中位总生存期约为 8 个月，从转移性疾病诊断开始的 5 年总生存率约为 10%。然而，免疫检查点抑制剂为黑色素瘤患者带来了不可或缺的益处。在这里，我们将回顾免疫检查点抑制剂治疗黑色素瘤患者的近期临床疗效和不良反应。
免疫检查点抑制剂可增加确诊的客观缓解率，并延长受累患者的无进展生存期和总生存期，同时保持其生活质量。虽然会发生各种免疫相关不良反应，但大多数不良反应都可以通过适当的免疫调节药物来控制。免疫检查点抑制剂停药后仍能持续发挥疗效。与传统治疗方案相比，免疫检查点抑制剂似乎能延长晚期黑色素瘤患者的生存期。有必要进行进一步的临床试验，以确定它们与其他治疗方案联合使用是否能提高疗效。
