Axitinib with Keytruda for MELANOMA – pro
No. KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) is the first PD-1 inhibitor approved and it was recently indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma and disease progression following ipilimumab and, if BRAF V600 mutation-positive, a BRAF inhibitor(1). Pembrolizumab is able to achieve a dual blockade (PD-L1 and PD-L2r. hOWEVER, THE COMBINATION WITH AXITINIB is not well supported for melanoma, although it is well published and FDA approved for renal cell carcinoma,
A phase II study demonstrated its single-agent activity in melanoma Fruehaf et al). There is a 2019 study with topiralimab, but I had not found it published with axitinib at all in melanoma. As such, it is experimental and not medically necessary.
Aaron, Elad, et al. “Immune checkpoints in cancer clinical trials.” Chinese journal of cancer 33.9 (2014): 434-444
Brian I. Rini, M.D. et al, Pembrolizumab plus Axitinib versus Sunitinib for Advanced Renal-Cell Carcinoma N Engl J Med 2019; 380:1116-1127
J. P. Fruehauf , J. Lutzky , D. F. McDermott , C. K. Brown , Y. K. Pithavala , P. W. Bycott.. Axitinib (AG-013736) in patients with metastatic melanoma: A phase II study. Journal of Clinical Oncology 26, no. 15_suppl (May 20, 2008) 9006-9006.
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