Long-term responses to molecularly targeted treatment and immunotherapy – groups of patients, management

Abstract

The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors and BRAF and MEK protein inhibitors in patients with advanced melanoma re­sulted in the overall survival median exceeding 2 years. For ipilimumab and anti-PD-1 antibodies, the percentage of 5-year survival is about 20% and 35%, respectively. Better results are obtained by patients treated in the first-line treatment. The most effective option seems to be the combined use of anti-CTLA-4 antibody with anti-PD antibody – in this case the percentage of 4-year overall survival was 53%. The 5-year overall survival rate of patients treated with BRAF/MEK inhibitors is 34%. Patients with a early stage of disease and normal lactate dehydrogenase concentration before systemic treatment are more likely to benefit from treatment.