Melanoom

Initiatief: NIV / NVVH Aantal modules: 62

Eerstelijnsbehandeling BRAF-wild type gemuteerd irresectabel of gemetastaseerd stadium III/IV

Publicatiedatum: 09-10-2025
Beoordeeld op geldigheid: 01-08-2025

Uitgangsvraag

Wat is de plaats van systemische therapie in de eerste lijns-behandeling van patiënten met een BRAF-wild type gemuteerd irresectabel of gemetastaseerd stadium III/IV melanoom?

Aanbeveling

Overweeg behandeling in studieverband.

 

Individualiseer de behandelbeslissing rekening houdend met het behandeldoel (kortetermijnvoordeel versus langetermijnvoordeel) en klinische kenmerken [lactaatdehydrogenase (LDH), betrokken organen waaronder de hersenen, algehele conditie (performance status), tumorlast, snelheid van ziekteprogressie], comorbiditeiten, bijwerkingen en patiëntvoorkeuren.

 

Overweeg immunotherapie bij patiënten die dit in de eerste maanden kunnen verdragen, omdat PD-1 blokkade, eventueel gecombineerd met ipilimumab, langdurige ziektecontrole kan bieden, zelfs na het beëindigen van de behandeling.

 

Baseer de keuze tussen monotherapie en combinatiebehandeling op klinische parameters. Combinatiebehandeling is meer voorbehouden voor patiënten met hersenmetastasen en/of verhoogd serum LDH.

Overwegingen

De cruciale uitkomstmaat overall survival in de context van patiënten met irresectabel of gemetastaseerd stadium III/IV melanoom werd gerapporteerd door 6 RCTs die verschillende systemische behandelingen in de eerste lijn onderzochten.

 

CHECKMATE-066 rapporteerde het effect van nivolumab versus dacarbazine op overall survival bij patiënten met irresectabel of gemetastaseerd stadium III/IV melanoom (Robert, 2015; Ascierto, 2019; Robert, 2020). Er werd daarbij een klinisch relevant voordeel gevonden voor het gebruik van nivolumab. Het absolute verschil in mediane overall survival was 26.1 maanden met een hazard ratio van 0.50 (95% CI 0.40-0.63). De bewijskracht van deze studie is redelijk. Dit heeft te maken met het risico op bias (doordat meer patiënten in de dacarbazine groep de behandeling stopten in vergelijking met de nivolumab groep.

 

De studie rapporteerde ook het effect op progression free survival en adverse events. Een langere mediane progression free survival werd gevonden voor patiënten in de nivolumab groep, met een absoluut verschil van 2.9 maanden met patiënten in de dacarbazine groep. De klinische relevantie van dit verschil kan niet worden beoordeeld op basis van de PASKWIL criteria (mediane overall survival in de controle groep > 12 maanden). Er werd geen klinisch relevant verschil gevonden tussen de studiegroepen voor het ontstaan van adverse events.

 

CHECKMATE-067 rapporteerde het effect van nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus nivolumab versus ipilimumab op overall survival bij patiënten met irresectabel of gemetastaseerd stadium III/IV melanoom (Larkin 2015, Wolchock 2017, Hodi 2018, Larkin 2019, Wolchok 2022). Er werd daarbij een klinisch relevant voordeel gevonden voor het gebruik van nivolumab plus ipilimumab. Het absolute verschil in mediane overall survival tussen behandeling met nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus behandeling met alleen ipilimumab was 52.2 maanden met een hazard ratio van 0.52 (95% CI 0.43-0.63). De bewijskracht hiervan is hoog. Het absolute verschil in mediane overall survival tussen behandeling met nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus behandeling met alleen nivolumab was 35.2 maanden met een hazard ratio van 0.84 (95% CI 0.67 to 1.04). De bewijskracht hiervan is redelijk tot laag, dit heeft te maken met imprecisie, omdat de confidence interval de grens voor klinische besluitvorming omvat en het risico op bias (doordat de studie niet gepowered was voor de vergelijking van deze middelen).

 

De studie rapporteerde ook het effect op progression free survival en adverse events. Een langere mediane progression free survival werd gevonden voor patiënten die behandeld warden met nivolumab plus ipilimumab, met een absoluut verschil van 8.6 maanden (HR 0.42; CI 0.35-0.51) met patiënten die behandeld warden met alleen ipilimumab en een verschil van 4.6 maanden (HR 0.79; CI 0.65 to 0.97) met patiënten die behandeld warden met alleen nivolumab. Behandeling met nivolumab plus ipilimumab resulteerde in een hoger percentage behandelingsgerelateerde adverse events grade ≥3 in vergelijking met behandeling met alleen nivolumab of alleen ipilimumab.

 

CA184-024 rapporteerde het effect van ipilimumab plus dacarbazine versus dacarbazine op overall survival bij patiënten met unresectable of gemetastaseerd stadium III/IV melanoom (Maio, 2015; Robert, 2011). Er werd daarbij geen klinisch relevant voordeel gevonden voor het gebruik van ipilimumab plus dacarbazine. Het absolute verschil in mediane overall survival tussen behandeling met ipilimumab plus dacarbazine versus behandeling met alleen dacarbazine was 2.12 maanden met een hazard ratio van 0.69 (95% CI 0.57 to 0.84). De bewijskracht van deze studie is zeer laag. Dit heeft te maken met het risico op bias (onduidelijke behandelings allocatie en doordat meer patiënten in de interventie groep stopten vanwege behandelingsgerelateerde adverse events) en door imprecisie omdat de confidence interval de grens voor klinische besluitvorming omvat.

 

De studie rapporteerde ook het effect op progression free survival en adverse events. Er werd geen klinisch relevant verschil gevonden tussen de studiegroepen voor de uitkomst progression free survival. het ontstaan van adverse events. Behandeling ipilimumab plus dacarbazine resulteerde in een hoger percentage behandelingsgerelateerde adverse events grade ≥3 in vergelijking met behandeling met alleen dacarbazine.

 

KEYNOTE-006 rapporteerde het effect van pembrolizumab (iedere 2 of 3 weken) in vergelijking met ipilimumab (iedere 3 weken) op overall survival bij patiënten met unresectable of gemetastaseerd stadium III/IV melanoom (Robert, 2019; Carlino, 2018; Schachter, 2017; Robert, 2015). Er werd daarbij geen klinisch relevant voordeel gevonden voor het gebruik van pembrolizumab. Het absolute verschil in mediane overall survival tussen behandeling met pembrolizumab versus behandeling met ipilimumab was 16.8 maanden met een hazard ratio van 0.73 (95% CI 0.61–0.88). De bewijskracht van deze studie is zeer laag. Dit heeft te maken met het risico op bias (open-label studie design; meer patiënten stopten in de controle groep; de rol van de sponsor) en door imprecisie, omdat de confidence interval de grens voor klinische besluitvorming omvat.

 

De studie rapporteerde ook het effect op progression free survival en adverse events. Voor de uitkomst progression free survival werd een klinisch relevant voordeel gevonden voor behandeling met pembrolizumab. Het absolute verschil in mediane progressievrije overleving was 5.0 maanden (HR 0.57; 95% CI 0.48–0.67). Er werd geen klinisch relevant verschil gevonden tussen de studiegroepen voor de uitkomst adverse events.

 

MASTERKEY-265 rapporteerde het effect van T-VEC plus pembrolizumab in vergelijking met placebo plus pembrolizumab op overall survival bij patiënten met unresectable of gemetastaseerd stadium III/IV melanoom (Chesney, 2023). Er werd daarbij geen klinisch relevant voordeel gevonden voor het gebruik van T-VEC plus pembrolizumab (HR 0.96; 95% CI 0.76 to 1.22). De bewijskracht van deze studie is zeer laag. Dit heeft te maken met het risico op bias (meer patiënten stopten in de controle groep; studie werd vroegtijdig gestopt) en door imprecisie.

 

De studie rapporteerde ook het effect op progression free survival en adverse events. Er werd geen klinisch relevant verschil gevonden tussen de studiegroepen voor de uitkomsten progression free survival en adverse events.

 

OPTiM rapporteerde het effect van T-VEC in vergelijking met GM-CSF op overall survival bij patiënten met irresectabel of gemetastaseerd stadium III/IV melanoom (Andtbacka, 2019; Andtbacka, 2015). Er werd daarbij geen klinisch relevant voordeel gevonden voor het gebruik van T-VEC. Het absolute verschil in mediane overall survival tussen behandeling met T-VEC versus behandeling met GM-CSF was 4.4 maanden met een hazard ratio 0.79 (95% CI 0.62–1.00). De bewijskracht van deze studie is zeer laag. Dit heeft te maken met het risico op bias (open-label studie design; meer patiënten stopten in de interventie groep; de rol van de sponsor) en door imprecisie, omdat het betrouwbaarheidsinterval de grens voor klinische besluitvorming omvat.

 

De studie rapporteerde ook het effect op adverse events. Er werd geen klinisch relevant verschil gevonden tussen de studiegroepen voor de uitkomst adverse events.

RELATIVITY-047 rapporteerde het effect van relatlimab plus nivolumab versus nivolumab op progression free survival, adverse events en kwaliteit van leven bij patiënten met unresectable of gemetastaseerd stadium III/IV melanoom (Tawbi, 2022). Het absolute verschil in mediane progression free survival was 5.5 maanden met een HR van 0.75 (95% CI 0.62-0.92). De klinische relevantie van dit verschil kan niet worden beoordeeld op basis van de PASKWIL criteria (mediane overall survival in de controle groep < 12 maanden). De bewijskracht van deze studie is laag, dit heeft te maken met het risico op bias (door de rol van de sponsor in deze studie) en door imprecisie.

Relatlimab plus nivolumab resulteert waarschijnlijk niet of nauwelijks in een vermindering of toename van adverse events of kwaliteit van leven vergeleken met nivolumab.

 

Aanvullend op de oorspronkelijke publicatie rapporteerden Long (2023) en Tawbi (2024) de eerste gegevens over overall survival en objective response rate voor RELATIVITY-047. De mediane overall survival was 51,0 maanden met relatlimab plus nivolumab versus 34,1 maanden met nivolumab (HR 0,80; 95% CI 0,66–0,99). Ook de objective response rate was hoger (43,7% vs. 33,7%). Er traden geen nieuwe adverse events op, al was het aantal graad 3–4 therapiegerelateerde bijwerkingen hoger bij combinatiebehandeling (22% vs. 12%).

 

Kwaliteit van bewijs
Nivolumab versus dacarbazine
De overall kwaliteit van bewijs is redelijk. Dit betekent dat we redelijk zeker zijn over het gevonden geschatte effect van cruciale uitkomstmaat overall survival.

 

Relatlimab plus nivolumab versus nivolumab

De overall kwaliteit van bewijs is laag. Dit betekent dat we onzeker zijn over het gevonden geschatte effect van de belangrijke uitkomstmaten (cruciale uitkomstmaat overall survival werd niet gerapporteerd).

 

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus nivolumab versus ipilimumab

De overall kwaliteit van bewijs is redelijk. Dit betekent dat we redelijk zeker zijn over het gevonden geschatte effect van cruciale uitkomstmaat overall survival.

 

Ipilimumab plus dacarbazine versus dacarbazine

De overall kwaliteit van bewijs is laag. Dit betekent dat we onzeker zijn over het gevonden geschatte effect van de cruciale uitkomstmaat overall survival.

 

Pembrolizumab every 2 weeks or every 3 weeks compared to ipilimumab

De overall kwaliteit van bewijs is zeer laag. Dit betekent dat we zeer onzeker zijn over het gevonden geschatte effect van de cruciale uitkomstmaat overall survival.

 

T-VEC plus pembrolizumab versus placebo plus pembrolizumab

De overall kwaliteit van bewijs is zeer laag. Dit betekent dat we zeer onzeker zijn over het gevonden geschatte effect van de cruciale uitkomstmaat overall survival.

 

Ondanks de vooruitgang in de behandeling van irresectabel of gemetastaseerd melanoom, blijven veel vragen onbeantwoord en voor een belangrijke deel van de patiënten blijft de prognose slecht. Inclusie van irresectabel of gemetastaseerd melanoom patienten in klinische studies blijft daarom de hoogste prioriteit in alle settings.

 

Waarden en voorkeuren van patiënten (en eventueel hun naasten/verzorgers)
Bij het kiezen van een behandelstrategie is het van belang om de waarden en voorkeuren van de patiënt centraal te stellen en de beslissing te individualiseren op basis van zowel het gewenste behandeldoel (kortetermijnvoordeel versus langetermijnvoordeel) als klinische kenmerken zoals lactaatdehydrogenase (LDH)-niveau, betrokken organen, performance status, tumorlast, de snelheid van ziekteprogressie en de bijwerkingen van de behandelingen.

 

Professioneel perspectief
Immunotherapie (PD-1-blokkade of PD-1-blokkade gecombineerd met ipilimumab) heeft de voorkeur, omdat het na het stoppen langdurige ziektecontrole kan bieden.

De keuze tussen monotherapie en combinatiebehandeling wordt mede bepaald door klinische factoren; bijvoorbeeld, patiënten met asymptomatische hersenmetastasen en/of een verhoogd LDH kunnen meer baat hebben bij combinatiebehandeling. In fase 2 studies (ABC studie en Checkmate 204) werd bij patiënten met asymptomatische hersenmetastasen een hogere responskans en betere overleving vastgesteld met ipilimumab + nivolumab (Long, 2019).

 

Kostenaspecten
Vanwege geheime prijsafspraken, kan de exacte impact op het geneesmiddelenbudget niet worden vastgesteld, maar het staat vast dat deze impact hoog is. Het huidig prijsniveau wordt echter acceptabel geacht in verhouding tot de effectiviteit van de behandeling. Een lagere prijs van de behandelingen zou desondanks in alle opzichten zeer wenselijk en naar mening van de werkgroep zelfs noodzakelijk zijn, mede met het oog op de komende ontwikkelingen en het betaalbaar houden en borgen van een goede kwaliteit van de zorg in de nabije toekomst.

 

Haalbaarheid/aanvaardbaarheid
Bij de behandeling van patiënten met een irresectabel of gemetastaseerd stadium III/IV melanoom is het van belang niet alleen te kijken naar klinische effectiviteit en patiëntvoorkeuren, maar ook naar de haalbaarheid en aanvaardbaarheid van de aanbevolen behandelopties. Deelname aan klinische studies kan voor sommige patiënten een haalbare optie zijn, mits er toegang is tot geschikte onderzoeksfaciliteiten en de patiënt bereid is de mogelijk intensieve studieverplichtingen te dragen.

 

Rationale van de aanbevelingen

De werkgroep is van mening dat deelname aan klinische studies in de behandeling van irresectabel of gemetastaseerd stadium III/IV melanoom de hoogste prioriteit heeft, gezien de sombere prognose voor een groot deel van de patiënten en de noodzaak om effectiviteit en aanvaardbaarheid van behandelingen verder te optimaliseren. Hierbij is het essentieel om patiëntwaarden en individuele klinische kenmerken leidend te laten zijn, zodat behandelbeslissingen aansluiten bij zowel haalbaarheid als de persoonlijke voorkeuren van de patiënt.

Onderbouwing

Nivolumab versus dacarbazine

Overall survival

 

Moderate GRADE

Nivolumab likely result in a large increase in overall survival compared to dacarbazine in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Sources: Robert, 2015; Ascierto, 2019; Robert, 2020

Progression free survival

 

Low GRADE

Nivolumab may result in a small increase in progression free survival compared to dacarbazine in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Sources: Robert, 2015; Ascierto, 2019; Robert, 2020

Adverse events

 

Moderate GRADE

Nivolumab likely result in little to no difference in adverse events when compared to dacarbazine in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Sources: Robert, 2015; Ascierto, 2019; Robert, 2020

Relatlimab plus nivolumab versus nivolumab

Progression free survival

 

Low GRADE

Relatlimab plus nivolumab may result in a small increase in progression free survival compared to nivolumab in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Source: Tawbi, 2022

Adverse events

 

Moderate

GRADE

Relatlimab plus nivolumab likely results in little to no difference in adverse events compared to nivolumab in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Source: Tawbi, 2022

Quality of Life

 

Moderate GRADE

Relatlimab plus nivolumab likely results in little to no difference in quality of life compared to nivolumab in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Source: Tawbi, 2022

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus nivolumab versus ipilimumab

Overall survival

 

Moderate GRADE

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab likely result in little to no difference in overall survival compared to treatment with nivolumab only in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Sources: Larkin, 2015; Wolchock, 2017; Hodi, 2018; Larkin, 2019; Wolchok, 2022

 

Moderate GRADE

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab likely result in an increase in overall survival compared to treatment with ipilimumab only in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Sources: Larkin, 2015; Wolchock, 2017; Hodi, 2018; Larkin, 2019; Wolchok, 2022

 

Moderate GRADE

Nivolumab likely resuls in an increase in overall survival compared to treatment with ipilimumab only in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Sources: Larkin, 2015; Wolchock, 2017; Hodi, 2018; Larkin, 2019; Wolchok, 2022

Progression free survival

 

Low GRADE

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab may result in little to no difference in progression free survival compared to treatment with nivolumab only in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Sources: Larkin, 2015; Wolchock, 2017; Hodi, 2018; Larkin, 2019; Wolchok, 2022

 

High GRADE

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab result in a large increase in progression free survival compared to treatment with ipilimumab only in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Sources: Larkin, 2015; Wolchock, 2017; Hodi, 2018; Larkin, 2019; Wolchok, 2022

 

High GRADE

Nivolumab results in an increase in progression free survival compared to treatment with nivolumab only in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Sources: Larkin, 2015; Wolchock, 2017; Hodi, 2018; Larkin, 2019; Wolchok, 2022

Adverse events

 

Moderate GRADE

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab likely result in an increase of adverse events compared to treatment with nivolumab only in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Sources: Larkin, 2015; Wolchock, 2017; Hodi, 2018; Larkin, 2019; Wolchok, 2022

 

High GRADE

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab result in an increase of adverse events compared to treatment with ipilimumab only in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Sources: Larkin, 2015; Wolchock, 2017; Hodi, 2018; Larkin, 2019; Wolchok, 2022

 

Moderate GRADE

Nivolumab probably result in little to no difference in adverse events compared to treatment with ipilimumab in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Sources: Larkin, 2015; Wolchock, 2017; Hodi, 2018; Larkin, 2019; Wolchok, 2022

Ipilimumab plus dacarbazine versus dacarbazine

Overall survival

 

Very low GRADE

The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of ipilimumab plus dacarbazine on overall survival compared to treatment with dacarbazine only in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Sources: Maio, 2015; Robert, 2011

Progression free survival

 

Very low GRADE

The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of ipilimumab plus dacarbazine on progression free survival compared to treatment with dacarbazine only in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Sources: Maio, 2015; Robert, 2011

Adverse events

 

Low GRADE

Ipilimumab plus dacarbazine may increase adverse events compared to treatment with dacarbazine only in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Sources: Maio, 2015; Robert, 2011

Pembrolizumab every 2 weeks or every 3 weeks compared to ipilimumab

Overall survival

 

Very low GRADE

The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of pembrolizumab every 2 weeks or every 3 weeks on overall survival compared to treatment with ipilimumab only in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Sources: Robert, 2019; Carlino, 2018; Schachter, 2017; Robert, 2015

Progression free survival

 

Low GRADE

Pembrolizumab every 2 weeks or every 3 weeks may increase progression free survival compared to treatment with ipilimumab in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Sources: Robert, 2019; Carlino, 2018; Schachter, 2017; Robert, 2015

Adverse events

 

Very low GRADE

The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of pembrolizumab every 2 weeks or every 3 weeks on adverse events compared to treatment with ipilimumab only in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Sources: Robert, 2019; Carlino, 2018; Schachter, 2017; Robert, 2015

T-VEC plus pembrolizumab versus placebo plus pembrolizumab

Overall survival

 

Very low GRADE

The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of T-VEC plus pembrolizumab on overall survival compared to treatment with placebo plus pembrolizumab in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Source: Chesney, 2023

Progression free survival

 

Very low GRADE

The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of T-VEC plus pembrolizumab on progression free survival compared to treatment with placebo plus pembrolizumab in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Source: Chesney, 2023

Adverse events

 

Very low GRADE

The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of T-VEC plus pembrolizumab on adverse events compared to treatment with placebo plus pembrolizumab in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Source: Chesney, 2023

T-VEC versus GM-CSF

Overall survival

 

Very low GRADE

The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of T-VEC on overall survival compared to treatment with GM-CSF in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Sources: Andtbacka, 2019; Andtbacka, 2015

Adverse events

 

Very low GRADE

The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of T-VEC on adverse events compared to treatment with GM-CSF in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy.

 

Sources: Andtbacka, 2019; Andtbacka, 2015

Seven randomized controlled trials that studied clinical outcomes of first line systemic therapy in patients with unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma with a BRAF-wild type were included in the literature analysis.

 

Description of studies

The study characteristics of the included trials are summarized in Table 1 in the main module Systematische therapie.

 

Robert (2015), Ascierto (2019), Robert (2020) – CHECKMATE-066 described a randomized, controlled, double-blind, phase III study, which was conducted in 80 centres in Europe, Israel, Australia, Canada and South America with a median follow-up of approximately 1.5 years. They evaluated the efficacy and safety of first line nivolumab versus dacarbazine in patients with metastatic melanoma without a BRAF mutation. A total of 418 patients were randomized to receive nivolumab (n = 210) at a dose of 3 mg per kilogram of body weight every 2 weeks and dacarbazine-matched placebo every 3 weeks) or dacarbazine (n = 208 at a dose of 1000 mg per square meter of body-surface area every 3 weeks and nivolumab-matched placebo every 2 weeks). The median age was 64 (18-86) years in the nivolumab group and 66 (26-87) years in the ICC group. In the nivolumab group 58% was male, compared to 60% in the ICC group. The following relevant outcomes were reported, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and number of patients with serious adverse events (AEs). In this literature analysis the median outcomes for OS and PFS are analysed and the last endpoint (5-year OS and 5-year PFS rates) of these outcomes are described.

 

Tawbi (2022) – RELATIVITY-047 described a phase 2-3 global, double-blind, randomized study, which was conducted in 111 sites in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. They evaluated the efficacy and safety of the combination of relatlimab, a LAG-3–blocking antibody, and nivolumab in patients with previously intreated metastatic or unresectable melanoma. A total of 714 patients were randomized to receive a relatlimab and nivolumab combination (160 mg of relatlimab and 480 mg of nivolumab in a fixed-dose combination administered in a single 60-minute intravenous infusion every 4 weeks) versus nivolumab alone (480 mg of nivolumab administered in a single 60-minute intravenous infusion every 4 weeks). The median age was 63 (20-94) years in the relatlimab + nivolumab group and 62.0 (21–90) years in the control group. In the relatlimab + nivolumab group 59% was male, compared to 57% in the nivolumab alone group. 219 of the 355 (61.7%) patients that were randomized in the relatlimab + nivolumab group, and 220 of the 359 (61.3%) patients that were randomized in the nivolumab alone group, had no BRAF mutation. The following relevant outcomes were reported PFS, AEs and quality of life (QoL). In this literature analysis the median PFS is analysed.

 

Larkin (2015), Larkin (2019), Wolchock (2017), Wolchok (2022), Hodi (2018) - CHECKMATE 067 is a phase 3, randomized, double-blind study, which is conducted in 137 centres in Australia, Europe, Israel, New Zealand, and North America. They evaluated the efficacy and safety of the use of Nivolumab and Ipilimumab as combination therapy in patients with untreated unresectable stage III or stage IV melanoma. A total of 945 patients were randomized to receive nivolumab 1 mg/kg plus ipilimumab 3 mg/kg once every 3 weeks followed by nivolumab 3 mg/kg once every 2 weeks (n=314, of which 101 patients (32.2%) had a BRAF mutation), or nivolumab 3 mg/kg once every 2 weeks (n=316, of which 100 patients (31.6%) had a BRAF mutation), or ipilimumab 3 mg/kg once every 3 weeks (n=315, of which 97 patients (30.8%) had a BRAF mutation). The median age, of both patients with and without BRAF mutation, was 59 (18-88) years in the combination group, 59 (25-90) in the nivolumab group and 61 (18-89) in the Ipilimumab group. In the combination group, 66% was male, compared to 64% in the nivolumab alone group and 64% in the Ipilimumab group. The following relevant outcomes were reported, PFS, OS and number of patients with serious AEs. The study was not powered for a formal statistical comparison between the nivolumab group and the nivolumab-plus-ipilimumab group. In this literature analysis the median outcomes for OS and PFS are analysed and the last endpoint for OS (6.5-year OS rates) are described.

 

Robert, 2011 / Maio, 2015 - CA184-024 is a multinational, randomized, double-blind, phase 3 study. This trial compared ipilimumab plus dacarbazine with dacarbazine and placebo in patients with previously untreated stage III (unresectable) or stage IV melanoma with measurable lesions. Patients were randomized to receive ipilimumab at a dose of 10 mg per kg plus dacarbazine at a dose of 850 mg per square meter (n=250) or dacarbazine at a dose of 850 mg per square meter plus placebo (n=252). The mean age was 57.5 years in the intervention group and 56.4 years in the control group. In the intervention group 60.8% and in the control group 59.1% were male. Robert (2011) reported on OS, PFS, and AEs after a follow up time of 54 months between the start of the study (first visit of first patient) and end of the study. Maio (2015) reported updated results after a median survival follow-up of 11 months (range, 0.4 to 71.9 months) for the intervention group and 8.9 months (range, 0.1 to 73.2 months) for the control group. In this literature analysis the median outcomes for OS and PFS are analysed and the last endpoint for OS (5-year OS rates) are described.

 

Robert, 2019 / Carlino, 2018 / Schachter, 2017 /Robert, 2015 - KEYNOTE-006 is an international, randomized, open-label phase 3 study performed in 16 countries. In this trial treatment with pembrolizumab versus ipilimumab was studied, to compare PD-1 inhibition with CTLA-4 blockade in patients with unresectable stage III/IV melanoma. Patients were randomized to pembrolizumab at a dose of 10 mg/kg of body weight every 2 weeks (n= 279); pembrolizumab at a dose of 10 mg/kg every 3 weeks (n=277); or ipilimumab at a dose of 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks (n=278). The mean age was 61 years in the pembrolizumab every 2 weeks group, 63 years in the pembrolizumab every 3 weeks group and 62 years in the ipilimumab group. The percentage of males was 57.7 %, 62.8%, and 58.3% for the three groups, respectively. Robert (2015) reported on OS, PFS, and AEs after a median follow-up of 7.9 months. Schachter (2017) reported updated results after a median follow-up of 22.9 months. Carlino (2018) reported updated outcomes by line of therapy and programmed death ligand 1 expression after a median follow-up of 33.9 months. Robert (2019) reported updated results of OS, PFS, and AES after a median follow-up of 57.7 months. In this literature analysis the median outcomes for OS and PFS are analysed and the last endpoints for OS and PFS (2-year OS rates and 2-year PFS rates) are described.

 

Chesney (2023) - MASTERKEY-265 is a multicenter, double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized phase 3 study in 21 countries.   This trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of T-VEC-pembrolizumab versus placebo-pembrolizumab in patients with stage IIIB-IV M1c unresectable melanoma. Patients were randomized to a combination of T-VEC plus pembrolizumab 200 mg once every 3 weeks (n=346) or placebo plus pembrolizumab 200 mg once every 3 weeks (n=346). The median age was 64 years in both study groups. The percentage of males was 57.5% in the T-VEC-pembrolizumab group and 63.3% placebo-pembrolizumab group. Chesney (2023) reported OS, PFS, and AES, after a median follow-up of 25.6 months for the primary PFS analysis, 31.0 months for the second OS interim analysis, and 35.6 months for the final analysis. In this literature analysis the median outcomes for OS and PFS are analysed.

 

Andtbacka, 2019 /Andtbacka, 2015 - OPTiM  is a randomized open-label phase 3 trial at 64 sites in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and South Africa. This trial evaluated outcomes after treatment with talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) compared with granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in patients with unresectable, stage IIIB/C/IV melanoma with ≥1 lesion that was suitable for direct or ultrasound-guided injection. Patients were randomized to T-VEC (at the approved dose) (n=295 (68%)) of subcutaneous recombinant GM-CSF (n=141 (32%)). The median age was 63 years in the T-VEC group and 64 years in the GM-CSF group. The percentage of males was 59% in the T-VEC group and 55% in the GM-CSF group. Of 204 of the 295 (69%) in the T-VEC group, and 95 of the 141 (67%) in the GM-CSF group, the BRAF mutation status was unknown. For 138 of the 295 (47%) patients in the T-VEC group, and 65 of the 141 (46%) in the GM-CSF group, this was a first line therapy. OS and AEs were reported after a median follow-up of 49 months in the final analysis of OS. In this literature analysis the median OS is analysed.

 

Results

Overall survival (OS) – Critical outcome measure

Six of the seven included studies reported on OS.

 

Checkmate-066 reported the effect of first line nivolumab versus dacarbazine on OS. The 5-year survival rates were 39% for the nivolumab group compared to 17% for the dacarbazine group. Treatment with nivolumab resulted in a longer median OS compared to treatment with dacarbazine. The absolute difference in median OS between the intervention (37.3 months) and the control group (11.2 months) is 26.1 months with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.50 (95% CI 0.40-0.63) favoring treatment with nivolumab. This difference was considered clinically relevant according to the PASKWIL criteria.

 

Checkmate-067 reported the effect of nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus nivolumab versus ipilimumab on OS in patients with BRAF wild-type tumors. The study was not powered for a formal comparison between the nivolumab plus ipilimumab and the nivolumab treatment groups. The 6.5-year OS rates were 46% for the nivolumab plus ipilimumab group, 42% for the nivolumab group, and 22% for the ipilimumab group. Treatment with nivolumab plus ipilimumab resulted in a longer median OS compared to treatment with nivolumab only or ipilimumab only. The absolute difference in median OS between the group treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab (39.1 months) versus those treated with nivolumab (34.4 months) was 4.7 months with a HR of 0.92 (95% CI 0.71 to 1.18) favoring treatment with nivolumab plus ipilimumab. This difference was not considered clinically relevant according to the PASKWIL criteria. The absolute difference in median OS between the group treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus those treated with ipilimumab (18.5 months) was 20.6 months with a HR of 0.58 (95% CI 0.45-0.74) favoring treatment with nivolumab plus ipilimumab. This difference was considered clinically relevant according to the PASKWIL criteria. The absolute difference in median OS between the group treated with nivolumab versus those treated with ipilimumab was 15.9 months with a HR of 0.63 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.80) favoring treatment with nivolumab. This difference was considered clinically relevant according to the PASKWIL criteria.

 

CA184-024 reported the effect of ipilimumab plus dacarbazine versus dacarbazine plus placebo on OS. The 5-year OS rates were 18.2% for the ipilimumab plus dacarbazine group and 8.8% for the dacarbazine group. Treatment with ipilimumab plus dacarbazine resulted in a longer median OS compared to treatment with dacarbazine only. The absolute difference in median OS between the group treated with ipilimumab plus dacarbazine (11.2 months) versus those treated with dacarbazine (9.1 months) was 2.1 months with a HR of 0.69 (95% CI 0.57 to 0.84) favoring treatment with ipilimumab plus dacarbazine. This difference was not considered clinically relevant according to the PASKWIL criteria.

 

KEYNOTE-006 reported the effect of pembrolizumab every 2 weeks or pembrolizumab every 3 weeks compared to ipilimumab every 3 weeks on OS. The 2-year OS rates were 55% in the pembrolizumab-every-2-weeks group, 55% in the pembrolizumab-every-3-weeks group, and 43% in the ipilimumab-every-3-weeks group. Treatment with pembrolizumab resulted in a longer median OS than treatment with ipilimumab. The absolute difference between the combined pembrolizumab groups (32.7 months) and the ipilimumab group (15.9 months) was 16.8 months with a HR of 0.73 (95% CI 0.61–0.88). This difference was not considered clinically relevant according to the PASKWIL criteria.

 

MASTERKEY-265 reported the effect of a combination of T-VEC plus pembrolizumab versus placebo plus pembrolizumab on OS. Treatment with T-VEC-pembrolizumab did not result in a longer OS compared with treatment with placebo-pembrolizumab. The median OS was not estimable in the T-VEC plus pembrolizumab group and 49.2 months (40.57 to not estimable) in the pembrolizumab group with a HR of 0.96 (95% CI 0.76 to 1.22; P =0 .74).

 

OPTiM reported the effect of T-VEC versus GM-CSF on OS. OPTiM reported the effect of T-VEC versus GM-CSF on OS in first line treatment, without subgroup analyses on BRAF mutation. Treatment with T-VEC resulted in a longer median OS than treatment with GM-CSF. The absolute difference between the T-VEC group (33.1 months) and the GM-CSF group (17 months) was 16.1 months with a HR of 0.50 (95% CI 0.35-0.73). This difference was considered clinically relevant according to the PASKWIL criteria.

 

Figure 1. Forest plot of median overall survival for first line systemic therapy versus placebo, other systemic therapy, or best supportive care in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy

Figure 1 Forest plot median overall survival first line

a For Checkmate-067 the HR for nivolumab versus ipilimumab is shown.

b For KEYNOTE-006 the HR for combined pembrolizumab versus ipilimumab is shown.

 

Progression free survival – important outcome measure

Six of the seven included studies reported on PFS.

 

Checkmate-066 reported the effect of first line nivolumab versus dacarbazine on PFS. The 5-year PFS rates were 28% for the nivolumab group compared to 3% for the dacarbazine group. Treatment with nivolumab resulted in a longer median PFS compared to treatment with dacarbazine. The absolute difference in median PFS between the intervention and the control group is 2.9 months with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.4 (95%CI 0.33-0.53) favoring treatment with nivolumab. According to the PASKWIL criteria we could not assess clinical relevance (median OS in the control group was < 12 months).

 

RELATIVITY-047 reported the effect of relatlimab and nivolumab versus nivolumab on PFS. In the subgroup of patients with wild-type BRAF, the median PFS survival was 10.1 months (95% CI, 5.9 to 17.0) with relatlimab–nivolumab and 4.6 months (95% CI, 2.9 to 6.6) with nivolumab. The absolute difference between the group treated with relatlimab and nivolumab and the group treated with nivolumab was 5.5 months with a HR of 0.76 (95%CI 0.59-0.99) favoring treatment with relatlimab and nivolumab. According to the PASKWIL criteria we could not assess clinical relevance (median OS in the control group not reported).

 

Checkmate-067 reported the effect of nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus nivolumab versus ipilimumab on PFS in patient with BRAF wild-type. The absolute difference in median PFS between the group treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab (11.2 months) versus those treated with nivolumab (8.2 months) was 3 months with a HR of 0.88 (0.69 – 1.12) favoring treatment with nivolumab plus ipilimumab. This difference was not considered clinically relevant according to the PASKWIL criteria. The absolute difference in median PFS between the group treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus those treated with ipilimumab (2.8 months) was 8.4 months with a HR of 0.41 (0.33 to 0.52) favoring treatment with nivolumab plus ipilimumab. This difference was considered clinically relevant according to the PASKWIL criteria. The absolute difference in median PFS between the group treated with nivolumab versus those treated with ipilimumab was 5.4 months with a HR of 0.47 (0.38 to 0.59) favoring treatment with nivolumab. This difference was considered clinically relevant according to the PASKWIL criteria.

 

CA184-024 reported the effect of ipilimumab plus dacarbazine versus dacarbazine plus placebo on PFS. The median PFS was comparable between the ipilimumab-dacarbazine group and the dacarbazine-only group. After the first assessment of progression at week 12 (after the true median), the Kaplan-Meier curves separated and there was a 24% reduction in the risk of progression in the ipilimumab plus dacarbazine group compared to the dacarbazine only group with a HR of 0.76 (95% CI 0.63–0.93). According to the PASKWIL criteria we could not assess clinical relevance (median OS in the control group was < 12 months).

 

KEYNOTE-006 reported the effect of pembrolizumab every 2 weeks or pembrolizumab every 3 weeks compared to ipilimumab every 3 weeks on PFS. The 2-year PFS rates were 31% in the pembrolizumab-every-2-weeks group, 28% in the pembrolizumab-every-3-weeks group, and 14% in the ipilimumab-every-3-weeks group. Treatment with pembrolizumab resulted in a longer median PFS than treatment with ipilimumab. The absolute difference between the combined pembrolizumab groups and the ipilimumab group was 5.0 months with a HR of 0.57 (95% CI 0.48–0.67). This difference was considered clinically relevant according to the PASKWIL criteria.

 

MASTERKEY-265 reported the effect of a combination of T-VEC plus pembrolizumab versus placebo plus pembrolizumab on PFS. Treatment with T-VEC-pembrolizumab resulted in a longer PFS compared with treatment with placebo-pembrolizumab. The absolute difference between the combined pembrolizumab groups and the ipilimumab group was 5.8 months with a HR of 0.86 (95% CI, 0.71 to 1.04). This difference was not considered clinically relevant according to the PASKWIL criteria.

 

Figure 2. Forest plot of median progression free survival for first line systemic therapy versus placebo, other systemic therapy, or best supportive care in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy

Figure 2 Forest plot median progression free survival first line

a For Checkmate-067 the HR for nivolumab versus ipilimumab is shown.

b For KEYNOTE-006 the HR for combined pembrolizumab versus ipilimumab is shown.

 

Treatment related adverse events (AEs) grade ≥ 3 - Important outcome

Seven of the seven included studies reported on AEs. The percentages of treatment related AEs grade ≥3 ranged from 4% to 59%.

 

Checkmate-066 reported the effect of first line nivolumab versus dacarbazine on AEs without using a subgroup analysis. Treatment with nivolumab resulted in a lower percentage of treatment related AEs grade ≥3 compared to treatment with dacarbazine. The risk difference is -0.02 (95%CI -0.09, 0.06; NNH= 50) favoring treatment with nivolumab. This difference is not considered clinically relevant according to the PASKWIL criteria.

 

RELATIVITY-047 reported the effect of relatlimab plus nivolumab versus nivolumab on AEs. Treatment with relatlimab and nivolumab resulted in a higher percentage of treatment related AEs grade ≥3 compared to treatment with nivolumab only. The risk difference is 0.07 (95%CI -0.00, 0.14; NNH= 14) favoring treatment with nivolumab. This difference is not considered clinically relevant according to the PASKWIL criteria.

 

Checkmate-067 reported the effect of nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus nivolumab versus ipilimumab on AEs. Treatment with nivolumab plus ipilimumab resulted in a higher percentage of treatment related AEs grade ≥3 compared to treatment with nivolumab or ipilimumab only. The risk difference between nivolumab plus ipilimumab and nivolumab is 0.36 (95%CI 0.29, 0.43; NNH= 2.8) favoring treatment with nivolumab. This difference is considered clinically relevant. The risk difference between nivolumab plus ipilimumab and ipilimumab is 0.32 (95% CI 0.25, 0.39; NNH= 3.1) favoring treatment with ipilimumab. This difference is considered clinically relevant. The risk difference between nivolumab and ipilimumab is 0.04 (95% CI -0.03, 0.11; NNH= 25) favoring treatment with nivolumab. This difference is not considered clinically relevant according to the PASKWIL criteria.

 

CA184-024 reported the effect of ipilimumab plus dacarbazine versus dacarbazine plus placebo on AEs. Treatment with ipilimumab plus dacarbazine resulted in a higher percentage of treatment related AEs grade ≥3 compared to treatment with dacarbazine only. The risk difference between ipilimumab plus dacarbazine and dacarbazine is 0.34 (95% CI 0.27, 0.40; NNH= 2.9) favoring treatment with dacarbazine. This difference is considered clinically relevant according to the PASKWIL criteria.

 

KEYNOTE-006 reported the effect of pembrolizumab every 2 weeks or pembrolizumab every 3 weeks compared to ipilimumab every 3 weeks on AEs. Treatment with pembrolizumab (pooled groups) resulted in a lower percentage of treatment related AEs grade ≥3 compared to treatment with ipilimumab. The risk difference between pembrolizumab (pooled groups) and ipilimumab is -0.01 (95% CI -0.06, 0.05; NNH=100) favoring treatment with pembrolizumab. This difference is not considered clinically relevant according to the PASKWIL criteria.

 

MASTERKEY-265 reported the effect of a combination of T-VEC plus pembrolizumab versus placebo plus pembrolizumab on AEs. Treatment with T-VEC-pembrolizumab resulted in a higher percentage of treatment related AEs grade ≥3 compared to treatment with placebo-pembrolizumab. The risk difference between T-VEC plus pembrolizumab and placebo-pembrolizumab is 0.05 (95% CI -0.01, 0.10; NNH=20) favoring treatment with placebo plus pembrolizumab. This difference is not considered clinically relevant according to the PASKWIL criteria.

 

OPTiM reported the effect of T-VEC versus GM-CSF on AEs. Treatment with T-VEC resulted in a higher percentage of treatment related AEs grade ≥3 compared to treatment with GM-CSF. The risk difference between T-VEC and GM-CSF is 0.07 (95% CI 0.02, 0.12; NNH=14) favoring treatment with GM-CSF. This difference is not considered clinically relevant according to the PASKWIL criteria.

 

Figure 3. Forest plot of adverse events for first line systemic therapy versus placebo, other systemic therapy, or best supportive care in patients with BRAF-wild type unresectable or metastatic stadium III/IV melanoma receiving first line systemic therapy

Figure 3 Forest plot adverse events first line systemic therapy

a For Checkmate-067 the risk difference for nivolumab versus ipilimumab is shown.

b For KEYNOTE-006 the risk difference for combined pembrolizumab versus ipilimumab is shown.

 

Quality of life (QoL) - Important outcome

One study reported the effect of first line systemic therapy on QoL.

 

RELATIVITY-047 reported the effect of relatlimab plus nivolumab versus nivolumab on QoL without using a subgroup analysis. In this study, the changes from baseline in FACT-M total score and EQ-5D-3L health utility index were analysed. The authors considered minimal clinically important differences of 5 in the FACT-M total score and 0.08 in the EQ-5D-3L health utility index to be clinically meaningful. The least-squares mean changes from baseline over time in the FACT-M total score ranged between 1 and -4 and did not exceed the minimal clinically important differences. The least-squares mean changes from baseline over time in the EQ-5D-3L utility index ranged between -0.025 and -0.08 and did not exceed the minimal clinically important differences.

 

Level of evidence of the literature

There are four levels of evidence: high, moderate, low, and very low. RCTs start at a high level of evidence.

 

Nivolumab versus dacarbazine

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure overall survival was downgraded by one level because of study limitations (risk of bias). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as moderate.

 

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure progression free survival was downgraded by two levels because of study limitations (risk of bias) and because we could not asses clinical relevance according to the PASKWIL criteria (imprecision). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as low.

 

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure adverse events was downgraded by one level because of study limitations (risk of bias). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as moderate.

 

Relatlimab plus nivolumab versus nivolumab

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure progression free survival was downgraded by two levels because of study limitations (risk of bias) and because we could not asses clinical relevance according to the PASKWIL criteria (imprecision). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as low.

 

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure adverse events was downgraded by one level because of study limitations (risk of bias). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as moderate.

 

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure quality of life was downgraded by one level because of study limitations (risk of bias). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as moderate.

 

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus nivolumab versus ipilimumab

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus nivolumab

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure overall survival was downgraded by one level because of study limitations (risk of bias). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as moderate.

 

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure progression free survival was downgraded by two levels because of study limitations (risk of bias) and because the confidence interval encloses the threshold for a clinically relevant effect and no clinically relevant effect (imprecision). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as low.

 

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure adverse events was downgraded by one level because of study limitations (risk of bias). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as moderate.

  

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus ipilimumab

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure overall survival was downgraded by one level because the confidence interval encloses the threshold for a clinically relevant effect and no clinically relevant effect (imprecision). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as moderate.

 

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure progression free survival the level of evidence was graded as high.

 

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure adverse events was graded as high.

 

Nivolumab versus ipilimumab

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure overall survival was downgraded by one level because the confidence interval encloses the threshold for a clinically relevant effect and no clinically relevant effect (imprecision). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as moderate.

 

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure progression free survival was graded as high.

 

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure adverse events was downgraded by one level because the optimal information size is not met (imprecision). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as moderate.

 

Ipilimumab plus dacarbazine versus dacarbazine

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure overall survival was downgraded by three levels because of study limitations (risk of bias -2); the confidence interval encloses the threshold for a clinically relevant effect and no clinically relevant effect (imprecision). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as very low.

 

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure progression free survival was downgraded by three levels because of study limitations (risk of bias -2) and the confidence interval encloses the threshold for a clinically relevant effect and no clinically relevant effect (imprecision). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as very low.

 

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure adverse events was downgraded by two levels because of study limitations (risk of bias -2). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as low.

 

Pembrolizumab every 2 weeks or every 3 weeks versus ipilimumab

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure overall survival was downgraded by three levels because of study limitations (risk of bias -2); the confidence interval encloses the threshold for a clinically relevant effect and no clinically relevant effect (imprecision). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as very low.

 

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure progression free survival was downgraded by two levels because of study limitations (risk of bias -2). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as low.

 

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure adverse events was downgraded by three levels because of study limitations (risk of bias -2) and was downgraded by one level because the optimal information size is not met (imprecision). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as very low.

 

T-VEC plus pembrolizumab versus placebo plus pembrolizumab

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure overall survival was downgraded by three levels because of study limitations (risk of bias -2); and was downgraded by one level because the optimal information size is not met (imprecision). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as very low.

 

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure progression free survival was downgraded by three levels because of study limitations (risk of bias -2) and was downgraded by one level because the optimal information size is not met (imprecision). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as very low.

 

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure adverse events was downgraded by three levels because of study limitations (risk of bias -2) and was downgraded by one level because the optimal information size is not met (imprecision). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as very low.

 

T-VEC versus GM-CSF

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure overall survival was downgraded by three levels because of study limitations (risk of bias -2); the confidence interval encloses the threshold for a clinically relevant effect and no clinically relevant effect (imprecision). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as very low.

 

The level of evidence regarding the outcome measure adverse events was downgraded by three levels because of study limitations (risk of bias -2) and was downgraded by one level because the optimal information size is not met (imprecision). Therefore, the level of evidence was graded as very low.

The search and selection methods can be found in the main module Systematische therapie.

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  3. 3 - Ascierto PA, Long GV, Robert C, Brady B, Dutriaux C, Di Giacomo AM, Mortier L, Hassel JC, Rutkowski P, McNeil C, Kalinka-Warzocha E, Savage KJ, Hernberg MM, Lebbé C, Charles J, Mihalcioiu C, Chiarion-Sileni V, Mauch C, Cognetti F, Ny L, Arance A, Svane IM, Schadendorf D, Gogas H, Saci A, Jiang J, Rizzo J, Atkinson V. Survival Outcomes in Patients With Previously Untreated BRAF Wild-Type Advanced Melanoma Treated With Nivolumab Therapy: Three-Year Follow-up of a Randomized Phase 3 Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2019 Feb 1;5(2):187-194. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2018.4514. Erratum in: JAMA Oncol. 2019 Feb 1;5(2):271. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2018.6113. PMID: 30422243; PMCID: PMC6439558.
  4. 4 - Carlino MS, Long GV, Schadendorf D, Robert C, Ribas A, Richtig E, Nyakas M, Caglevic C, Tarhini A, Blank C, Hoeller C, Bar-Sela G, Barrow C, Wolter P, Zhou H, Emancipator K, Jensen EH, Ebbinghaus S, Ibrahim N, Daud A. Outcomes by line of therapy and programmed death ligand 1 expression in patients with advanced melanoma treated with pembrolizumab or ipilimumab in KEYNOTE-006: A randomised clinical trial. Eur J Cancer. 2018 Sep;101:236-243. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2018.06.034. Epub 2018 Aug 7. PMID: 30096704.
  5. 5 - Chesney JA, Ribas A, Long GV, Kirkwood JM, Dummer R, Puzanov I, Hoeller C, Gajewski TF, Gutzmer R, Rutkowski P, Demidov L, Arenberger P, Shin SJ, Ferrucci PF, Haydon A, Hyngstrom J, van Thienen JV, Haferkamp S, Guilera JM, Rapoport BL, VanderWalde A, Diede SJ, Anderson JR, Treichel S, Chan EL, Bhatta S, Gansert J, Hodi FS, Gogas H. Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Global Phase III Trial of Talimogene Laherparepvec Combined With Pembrolizumab for Advanced Melanoma. J Clin Oncol. 2023 Jan 20;41(3):528-540. doi: 10.1200/JCO.22.00343. Epub 2022 Aug 23. PMID: 35998300; PMCID: PMC9870217.
  6. 6 - Hodi FS, Chiarion-Sileni V, Gonzalez R, Grob JJ, Rutkowski P, Cowey CL, Lao CD, Schadendorf D, Wagstaff J, Dummer R, Ferrucci PF, Smylie M, Hill A, Hogg D, Marquez-Rodas I, Jiang J, Rizzo J, Larkin J, Wolchok JD. Nivolumab plus ipilimumab or nivolumab alone versus ipilimumab alone in advanced melanoma (CheckMate 067): 4-year outcomes of a multicentre, randomised, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2018 Nov;19(11):1480-1492. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(18)30700-9. Epub 2018 Oct 22. Erratum in: Lancet Oncol. 2018 Dec;19(12):e668. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(18)30841-6. Erratum in: Lancet Oncol. 2018 Nov;19(11):e581. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(18)30775-7. PMID: 30361170.
  7. 7 - Larkin J, Chiarion-Sileni V, Gonzalez R, Grob JJ, Rutkowski P, Lao CD, Cowey CL, Schadendorf D, Wagstaff J, Dummer R, Ferrucci PF, Smylie M, Hogg D, Hill A, Márquez-Rodas I, Haanen J, Guidoboni M, Maio M, Schöffski P, Carlino MS, Lebbé C, McArthur G, Ascierto PA, Daniels GA, Long GV, Bastholt L, Rizzo JI, Balogh A, Moshyk A, Hodi FS, Wolchok JD. Five-Year Survival with Combined Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in Advanced Melanoma. N Engl J Med. 2019 Oct 17;381(16):1535-1546. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1910836. Epub 2019 Sep 28. PMID: 31562797.
  8. 8 - Larkin J, Lao CD, Urba WJ, McDermott DF, Horak C, Jiang J, Wolchok JD. Efficacy and Safety of Nivolumab in Patients With BRAF V600 Mutant and BRAF Wild-Type Advanced Melanoma: A Pooled Analysis of 4 Clinical Trials. JAMA Oncol. 2015 Jul;1(4):433-40. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2015.1184. PMID: 26181250.
  9. 9 - Maio M, Grob JJ, Aamdal S, Bondarenko I, Robert C, Thomas L, Garbe C, Chiarion-Sileni V, Testori A, Chen TT, Tschaika M, Wolchok JD. Five-year survival rates for treatment-naive patients with advanced melanoma who received ipilimumab plus dacarbazine in a phase III trial. J Clin Oncol. 2015 Apr 1;33(10):1191-6. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2014.56.6018. Epub 2015 Feb 23. PMID: 25713437; PMCID: PMC5795709.
  10. 10 - Robert C, Karaszewska B, Schachter J, Rutkowski P, Mackiewicz A, Stroiakovski D, Lichinitser M, Dummer R, Grange F, Mortier L, Chiarion-Sileni V, Drucis K, Krajsova I, Hauschild A, Lorigan P, Wolter P, Long GV, Flaherty K, Nathan P, Ribas A, Martin AM, Sun P, Crist W, Legos J, Rubin SD, Little SM, Schadendorf D. Improved overall survival in melanoma with combined dabrafenib and trametinib. N Engl J Med. 2015 Jan 1;372(1):30-9. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1412690. Epub 2014 Nov 16. PMID: 25399551.
  11. 11 - Robert C, Long GV, Brady B, Dutriaux C, Di Giacomo AM, Mortier L, Rutkowski P, Hassel JC, McNeil CM, Kalinka EA, Lebbé C, Charles J, Hernberg MM, Savage KJ, Chiarion-Sileni V, Mihalcioiu C, Mauch C, Arance A, Cognetti F, Ny L, Schmidt H, Schadendorf D, Gogas H, Zoco J, Re S, Ascierto PA, Atkinson V. Five-Year Outcomes With Nivolumab in Patients With Wild-Type BRAF Advanced Melanoma. J Clin Oncol. 2020 Nov 20;38(33):3937-3946. doi: 10.1200/JCO.20.00995. Epub 2020 Sep 30. PMID: 32997575; PMCID: PMC7676881.
  12. 12 - Robert C, Long GV, Brady B, Dutriaux C, Maio M, Mortier L, Hassel JC, Rutkowski P, McNeil C, Kalinka-Warzocha E, Savage KJ, Hernberg MM, Lebbé C, Charles J, Mihalcioiu C, Chiarion-Sileni V, Mauch C, Cognetti F, Arance A, Schmidt H, Schadendorf D, Gogas H, Lundgren-Eriksson L, Horak C, Sharkey B, Waxman IM, Atkinson V, Ascierto PA. Nivolumab in previously untreated melanoma without BRAF mutation. N Engl J Med. 2015 Jan 22;372(4):320-30. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1412082. Epub 2014 Nov 16. PMID: 25399552.
  13. 13 - Robert C, Schachter J, Long GV, Arance A, Grob JJ, Mortier L, Daud A, Carlino MS, McNeil C, Lotem M, Larkin J, Lorigan P, Neyns B, Blank CU, Hamid O, Mateus C, Shapira-Frommer R, Kosh M, Zhou H, Ibrahim N, Ebbinghaus S, Ribas A; KEYNOTE-006 investigators. Pembrolizumab versus Ipilimumab in Advanced Melanoma. N Engl J Med. 2015 Jun 25;372(26):2521-32. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1503093. Epub 2015 Apr 19. PMID: 25891173.
  14. 14 - Robert C, Thomas L, Bondarenko I, O'Day S, Weber J, Garbe C, Lebbe C, Baurain JF, Testori A, Grob JJ, Davidson N, Richards J, Maio M, Hauschild A, Miller WH Jr, Gascon P, Lotem M, Harmankaya K, Ibrahim R, Francis S, Chen TT, Humphrey R, Hoos A, Wolchok JD. Ipilimumab plus dacarbazine for previously untreated metastatic melanoma. N Engl J Med. 2011 Jun 30;364(26):2517-26. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1104621. Epub 2011 Jun 5. PMID: 21639810.
  15. 15 - Schachter J, Ribas A, Long GV, Arance A, Grob JJ, Mortier L, Daud A, Carlino MS, McNeil C, Lotem M, Larkin J, Lorigan P, Neyns B, Blank C, Petrella TM, Hamid O, Zhou H, Ebbinghaus S, Ibrahim N, Robert C. Pembrolizumab versus ipilimumab for advanced melanoma: final overall survival results of a multicentre, randomised, open-label phase 3 study (KEYNOTE-006). Lancet. 2017 Oct 21;390(10105):1853-1862. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31601-X. Epub 2017 Aug 16. PMID: 28822576.
  16. 16 - Tawbi HA, Schadendorf D, Lipson EJ, Ascierto PA, Matamala L, Castillo Gutiérrez E, Rutkowski P, Gogas HJ, Lao CD, De Menezes JJ, Dalle S, Arance A, Grob JJ, Srivastava S, Abaskharoun M, Hamilton M, Keidel S, Simonsen KL, Sobiesk AM, Li B, Hodi FS, Long GV; RELATIVITY-047 Investigators. Relatlimab and Nivolumab versus Nivolumab in Untreated Advanced Melanoma. N Engl J Med. 2022 Jan 6;386(1):24-34. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2109970. PMID: 34986285; PMCID: PMC9844513.
  17. 17 - Wolchok JD, Chiarion-Sileni V, Gonzalez R, Grob JJ, Rutkowski P, Lao CD, Cowey CL, Schadendorf D, Wagstaff J, Dummer R, Ferrucci PF, Smylie M, Butler MO, Hill A, Márquez-Rodas I, Haanen JBAG, Guidoboni M, Maio M, Schöffski P, Carlino MS, Lebbé C, McArthur G, Ascierto PA, Daniels GA, Long GV, Bas T, Ritchings C, Larkin J, Hodi FS. Long-Term Outcomes With Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab or Nivolumab Alone Versus Ipilimumab in Patients With Advanced Melanoma. J Clin Oncol. 2022 Jan 10;40(2):127-137. doi: 10.1200/JCO.21.02229. Epub 2021 Nov 24. PMID: 34818112; PMCID: PMC8718224.
  18. 18 - Wolchok JD, Chiarion-Sileni V, Gonzalez R, Rutkowski P, Grob JJ, Cowey CL, Lao CD, Wagstaff J, Schadendorf D, Ferrucci PF, Smylie M, Dummer R, Hill A, Hogg D, Haanen J, Carlino MS, Bechter O, Maio M, Marquez-Rodas I, Guidoboni M, McArthur G, Lebbé C, Ascierto PA, Long GV, Cebon J, Sosman J, Postow MA, Callahan MK, Walker D, Rollin L, Bhore R, Hodi FS, Larkin J. Overall Survival with Combined Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in Advanced Melanoma. N Engl J Med. 2017 Oct 5;377(14):1345-1356. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1709684. Epub 2017 Sep 11. Erratum in: N Engl J Med. 2018 Nov 29;379(22):2185. doi: 10.1056/NEJMx180040. PMID: 28889792; PMCID: PMC5706778.

Robert, 2015

Ascierto 2019

Robert 2020

Checkmate 066

Type of study: phase III, randomized, controlled, double blind study

 

Setting and country: Multicentre, 80 centres in Europe, Israel, Australia, Canada and South America.

 

Funding and conflicts of interest:

Funded by Bristol-Meyers Squibb. The funder participated in data collection and medical writing support.

 

Detailed declarations of interests are provided in the article.

Inclusion criteria:
-Confirmed, unresectable, previously untreated stage III or IV melanoma without a BRAF mutation.

-Aged >= 18 years

-ECOG performance status 0 or 1.

-The availability of tumor

tissue from a metastatic or unresectable site for PD-L1 biomarker analysis.

 

Exclusion criteria:

-Active brain metastases

-Uveal melanoma

-A history of serious autoimmune disease.

 

N total at baseline: 418

Intervention: 210

Control: 208

 

Important prognostic factors2:

 

Median age (IQR)

I: 64 (18-86)

C: 66 (26-87)

 

Sex:

I: 57.6% M

C: 60.1% M

 

ECOG performance status:

I: 70.5% 0

C: 58.2% 0

 

No BRAF mutation:

I: 202 (96.2%)

C: 204 (98.1%)

 

PD-L1 status positive:

I: 35.2%

C: 35.6%

 

Brain metastases:

I: 3.3%

C: 3.8%

 

Increased lactate dehydrogenase levels <ULN:

I: 37.6%

C: 35.6%

 

Groups comparable at baseline?

Yes.

 

Describe intervention (treatment/procedure/test):

 

Intravenous infusion of 3 mg of nivolumab per kilogram of body weight every 2 weeks, plus a dacarbazine-matched placebo every 3 weeks

Describe control (treatment/procedure/test):

 

Intravenous infusion of 1000 mg of dacarbazine

per square meter of body-surface area every 3 weeks, plus a nivolumab-matched placebo every 2 weeks.

Robert 2015:

Clinical data cutoff

June 24, 2014

Range of follow-up:

5.2-16.7 months

 

Loss-to-follow-up:

Intervention: 111 (53%) discontinued treatment.

96 disease progression

5 study drug toxicity

0 death

2 AE unrelated to study drug

5 request to discontinue

2 withdrew consent

1 max clinical benefit

 

Control: 129 (92%) discontinued treatment.

175 disease progression

7 study drug toxicity

0 death

3 AE unrelated to study drug

2 request to continue

3 withdrew consent

1 max clinical benefit

1 other

 

Ascierto 2019:

Clinical data cutoff

June 22, 2017

Minimum follow-up

38.4 months (intervention)

38.5 months (control)

 

Loss-to-follow-up:

Intervention: 174 (83%) discontinued treatment.

118 disease progression

18 study drug toxicity

1 death

1 poor or noncompliance

2 AE unrelated to study drug

18 request to discontinue

2 withdrew consent

11 max clinical benefit

3 other

 

Control: 197 (95%) discontinued treatment.

167 disease progression

9 study drug toxicity

0 death

6 AE unrelated to study drug

6 request to continue

5 withdrew consent

1 max clinical benefit

3 other

 

Robert 2020:

Clinical data cutoff

April 9, 2019

Median follow-up

32 months (intervention)

10.9 months (control)

 

Loss-to-follow-up:

Intervention: 189 (92%) discontinued treatment.

119 disease progression

19 study drug toxicity

22 request to discontinue

16 maximum clinical benefit

5 adverse event unrelated to treatment

4 other

2 withdrew consent

1 poor/non-compliance

1 death

 

Control: 204 (98%) discontinued treatment.

174 disease progression

8 study drug toxicity

3 request to discontinue

9 maximum clinical benefit

6 adverse events unrelated to treatment

1 other

3 withdrew consent

 

Outcome measures and effect size (include 95%CI and p-value if available):

 

Robert 2015

Median overall survival:
I: not reached

C: 10.8 months (95%CI 9.3-12.1)

 

Overall survival rate at 1 year:

I: 72.9% (95%CI 65.5-78.9)

C: 42.1 % (95%CI 33.0-50.9)

HR 0.42, (0.42; 99.79%

CI, 0.25 to 0.73; P<0.001

 

Median progression-free survival:

I: 5.1 months (95% CI, 3.5 to 10.8)

C: 2.2 months (95% CI, 2.1 to 2.4)

HR, 0.43, 95%CI 0.34-0.56, P<0.001

 

Adverse events:

I: 74.35

C: 75.6%

Treatment related grade 3 and 4:

I: 11.7%

C: 17.6%

 

Quality of life:

Not reported.

 

Ascierto 2019

Median overall survival:

I: 37.5 months (95%CI 25.5-NR)

C: 11.2 months (95%CI 9.6-13.0 months)

HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.36-0.59)

 

Median progression-free survival:

I: 5.1 months (95% CI, 3.5 to 12.2)

Rate 32.2% (95%CI 25.6-39.0)

C: 2.2 months (95% CI, 2.1 to 2.5)

Rate 2.9% (95%CI 0.7-8.1%)

HR, 0.42, 95%CI 0.33-0.53, P<0.001

 

Adverse events:

I: 77.7%

C: 77.6%

Treatment related grade 3 and 4:

I: 15%

C: 17.6%

 

Quality of life:

Not reported.

 

Robert 2020

Median overall survival:

I: 37.3 months (95% CI, 25.4

to 51.6 months)

C: 11.2 months (95%CI 9.6-13.0 months)

HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.40-0.63)

 

5-year survival rates

I: 39%

C: 17%

 

Median progression-free survival:

I: 5.1 months (95% CI, 3.5 to 12.2)

Rate 28%

C: 2.2 months (95% CI, 2.1 to 2.5)

Rate 3%

HR, 0.42, 95%CI 0.33-0.53, P<0.001

 

Adverse events:

I: 77.7%

C: 77.6%

Treatment related grade 3 and 4:

I: 16%

C: 18%

 

Quality of life:

Not reported.

Authors ‘conclusion:

In conclusion, nivolumab was associated with a significant improvement in overall survival and progression-free survival, as compared with dacarbazine.

Nivolumab was associated with a low

risk of high-grade toxic effects.

-Subgroup analysis was performed on the PD-L1 group.

Overall survival sensitivity analysis PD-L1 group

HR 0.30, 95% CI, 0.15 to 0.60

 

Tawbi 2022, RELATIVITY-047

Type of study: phase 2-3, global, double-blind, randomized controlled trial

 

Setting and country: Multicentre, 111 sites in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

 

Funding and conflicts of interest:

Funded by Bristol-Meyers Squibb. The funder participated in data collection and medical writing support.

 

Detailed declarations of interests are provided in the article.

Inclusion criteria:
-Previously untreated, histologically confirmed, unresectable stage III or IV melanoma

-Aged >= 12 years

-Measurable disease according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), version 1.1

-Expression of LAG-3 and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) that could be evaluated in tumor tissue

-Patients who had received previous adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapies containing a PD-1, CTLA-4, BRAF, or MEK inhibitor (or a combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors) were eligible if the therapy was completed at least 6 months before the date of recurrence

-Patients who received previous treatment with interferon were eligible if the last dose was received at least 6 weeks before randomization

Exclusion criteria:

-Active untreated brain or leptomeningeal metastases

-Uveal melanoma

-A history of serious autoimmune disease.

 

N total at baseline: 714

Intervention: 355

Control: 359

 

Important prognostic factors2:

 

Median age (IQR)

I: 63 (20-94)

C: 62.0 (21–90)        

 

Sex:

I: 59.2% M

C: 57.4% M

 

ECOG performance status:

I: 66.5% 0

C: 67.4% 0

 

No BRAF mutation:

I: 219 (61.7)

C: 220 (61.3)

 

LAG-3 expression >=1%

I: 268 (75.5)

C: 269 (74.9)

 

PD-L1 expression >=1%

I: 146 (41.4)

C: 147 (40.9)

 

Groups comparable at baseline?

Yes.

Describe intervention (treatment/procedure/test):

 

160 mg of relatlimab and 480 mg of nivolumab in a fixed-dose combination administered in a single 60-minute intravenous infusion every 4 weeks

Describe control (treatment/procedure/test):

 

480 mg of nivolumab administered in a single 60-minute intravenous infusion every 4 weeks

Median follow-up:

13.2 months

 

Loss-to-follow-up:

Intervention: 237 (66.8%) discontinued treatment.

129 disease progression

63 AE related to study drug

19 request to discontinue

12 AE unrelated to study drug

 

 

Control: 233 (64.9%) discontinued treatment.

165 disease progression

32 AE related to study drug

12 request to discontinue

14 AE unrelated to study drug

 

 

Outcome measures and effect size (include 95%CI and p-value if available):

 

Overall survival:

Not reported.

 

Median progression-free survival:

I: 10.1 months (95%CI, 6.4 to 15.7)
C: 4.6 months (95%CI 3.4 to 5.6)
HR 0.75 (95%CI 0.62-0.92)?

 

Adverse events:

I: 345 (97.2%)

C: 339 (94.4%)

Treatment related grade 3 and 4:

I: 143 (40.3%)

C: 120 (33.4%)

 

Quality of life:

No substantial differences in health-related quality of life were noted between the treatment groups.

Authors’ conclusion:

The inhibition of two immune checkpoints, LAG-3 and PD-1, provided a greater benefit with regard to progression-free survival than inhibition of PD-1 alone in patients with previously untreated metastatic or unresectable melanoma. Relatlimab and nivolumab in combination showed no new safety signals.

 

-Outcome overall survival:

At the final analysis of progression-free survival, the data monitoring committee conducted a prespecified interim analysis of overall survival, which at that time point had not reached significance.

 

Subgroup analysis: the benefit of treatment with relatlimab–nivolumab was observed regardless of patients’ BRAF mutation status. In the subgroup of patients with BRAF mutations, the median progression-free survival was 10.1 months (95% CI, 4.6 to 23.1) in the relatlimab–nivolumab group and 4.6 months (95% CI, 3.0 to 6.5) in the nivolumab group (hazard ratio for progression or death, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.54 to 1.03]); in the subgroup of patients with wild-type BRAF, the median progression-free survival was 10.1 months (95% CI, 5.9 to 17.0) with relatlimab–nivolumab and 4.6 months (95% CI, 2.9 to 6.6) with nivolumab (hazard ratio, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.59 to 0.98]).

Larkin 2015,

Wolchock 2017,

Hodi 2018,

Larkin 2019,

Wolchok 2022

 

CheckMate 067

Type of study: multicentre, randomized, double-blind, phase 3 study.

 

Setting and country: Multicentre, 137 centres in Australia,

Europe, Israel, New Zealand, and North

America.

 

Funding and conflicts of interest:

Funded by Bristol-Meyers Squibb.

 

Detailed declarations of interests are provided in the article.

Inclusion criteria:

-histologically confirmed

stage III (unresectable) or stage IV melanoma

-no prior systemic treatment for advanced

disease.

-age >= 18 years

-ECOG performance-status score of 0-1

-measurable disease as assessed by means of computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), version 1.1

-availability of tissue collected from metastatic or unresectable tumors (archival or recently biopsied samples) for the assessment of PD-L1 status

-known

BRAF V600 mutation status

 

Exclusion criteria:

-ECOG score of 2 or higher

-presence of active brain metastases

-ocular melanoma

-autoimmune disease.

 

N total at baseline: 945

Nivolumab: 316

Nivolumab + ipilimumab: 314

Ipilimumab: 315

 

Important prognostic factors2:

 

Median age (IQR)

nivo: 59 (25-90)

nivo+ipi: 59 (18-88)

ipi: 61 (18-89)         

 

Sex:

nivo: 202 (63.9%) M

nivo+ipi: 206 (65.6%) M

ipi: 202 (64.1%) M

 

ECOG performance status 0:

nivo: 238 (75.3%)

nivo+ipi: 230 (73.2%)

ipi: 224 (71.1%)

 

No BRAF mutation:

nivo: 216 (68.4%)

nivo+ipi: 213 (67.8%)

ipi: 218 (69.2%)

 

Increased serum lactate dehydrogenase <ULN:

Nivo: 112 (35.4%)

nivo+ipi: 114 (36.3%)

ipi: 115 (36.5%)

 

Brain metastases

nivo: 8 (2.5%)

nivo+ipi: 11 (3.5%)

ipi: 15 (4.8%)

 

PD-L1 status positive:

nivo: 80 (25.3%)

nivo+ipi: 68 (21.7%)

ipi: 75 (23.8%)

 

 

Groups comparable at baseline? Yes

 

Describe intervention (treatment/procedure/test):

 

Nivo + ipi:

1 mg of nivolumab per kilogram every 3 weeks plus 3 mg of ipilimumab per kilogram every 3 weeks for

4 doses, followed by 3 mg of nivolumab per kilogram every 2 weeks for cycle 3 and beyond.

Administered

by means of intravenous infusion.

Describe control (treatment/procedure/test):

 

Nivo:

3 mg of nivolumab per kilogram of body weight every 2 weeks (plus ipilimumab-matched placebo).

 

Ipi:

3 mg of ipilimumab per kilogram every 3 weeks

for 4 doses (plus nivolumab-matched placebo).

 

Administered

by means of intravenous infusion.

Larkin 2015

Median follow-up:

Clinical data cutoff February 17, 2015.

Range 12.2-12.5 months

 

Loss-to-follow-up:

Nivo: 3 (0.95%)

 1 no longer met study criteria

1 withdrew consent

1 request to discontinue

 

Nivo + ipi: 1 (0.32%)

1 no longer met study criteria

 

Ipi: 4 (1.27%)

2 no longer met study criteria

1 withdrew consent

1 disease progression

 

Wolchok 2017

Median follow-up:

Clinical data cutoff

May 24, 2017.

Nivo: 35.7 months

Nivo+ipi: 38.0 months

Ipi: 18.6 months

 

Loss-to-follow-up:

Nivo: 265 (84.7%)

 174 disease progression

42 study drug toxicity

1 death

8 adverse events

24 patient request

1 lost to follow-up

12 maximum clinical

benefit

1 poor/noncompliance

2 other

 

Nivo + ipi: 288 (92.0%)

90 disease progression

131 study drug toxicity

4 deaths

18 adverse events

24 patient request

3 withdrew consent

12 maximum clinical

benefit

1 poor/noncompliance

1 no longer met study

criteria

4 other

 

Ipi: 303 (97.4%)

224 disease progression

52 study drug toxicity

1 death

6 adverse events

13 patient request

1 withdrew consent

3 maximum clinical benefit

1 poor/noncompliance

2 other

 

Hodi 2018

Median follow-up (IQR):

Clinical data cutoff May 10, 2018.

Nivo: 36.0 months (10.5-51.4 months)

Nivo+ipi: 46.9 months (10.9-51.8 months)

Ipi: 18.6 months (7.6-49.5 months)

 

Loss-to-follow-up:

 

Nivo: 280

177 disease progression

44 study drug toxicity

1 death

8 adverse events

29 patient request

1 lost to follow-up

16 achieved maximum

clinical benefit

1 poor or non-compliance

3 other

 

Nivo + ipi: 295

90 disease progression

134 study drug toxicity

4 deaths

19 adverse events

27 patient request

3 withdrew consent

13 achieved maximum

clinical benefit

1 poor or non-compliance

1 no longer met study

criteria

3 other

 

Ipi: 311

224 disease progression

52 study drug toxicity

1 death

6 adverse events

13 patient request

1 withdrew consent

4 achieved maximum

clinical benefit

1 poor or non-compliance

6 administrative reason*

3 other

 

Larkin 2019

Median follow-up:

Clinical data cutoff July 2, 2019.

Nivo: 54.6 months

Nivo+ipi: 36.0 months

Ipi: 18.6 months

 

Loss-to-follow-up:

Nivo: 289 (92.3%)

179 disease progression

45 study drug toxicity

1 death

8 adverse events

33 patient request

1 lost to follow-up

18 maximum clinical

benefit

1 poor/non-compliance

3 other

 

Nivo + ipi: 301 (96.2%)

90 disease progression

139 study drug toxicity

4 death

18 adverse events

27 patient request

3 withdrew consent

15 maximum clinical

Benefit

1 poor/non-compliance

1 no longer meets study

criteria

3 other

 

Ipi: 311 (100%)

224 disease progression

52 study drug toxicity

1 death

6 adverse events

13 patient request

1 withdrew consent

4 maximum clinical

benefit

1 poor/non-compliance

6 administrative

reasons

3 other

 

Wolchok 2022

Median follow-up:

Clinical data cutoff October 19, 2020.

Nivo: 57.5 months

Nivo+ipi: 36.0 months

Ipi: 18.6 months

 

Loss-to-follow-up:

Nivo: 305 (97.4%)

180 disease progression

49 study drug toxicity

1 death

8 adverse events

39 patient request

2 withdrew consent

1 lost to follow-up

21 maximum clinical

benefit

1 poor/non-compliance

3 other

 

Nivo + ipi: 306 (97.8%)

91 disease progression

139 study drug toxicity

4 death

18 adverse events

30 patient request

3 withdrew consent

16 maximum clinical

Benefit

1 poor/non-compliance

1 no longer meets study

criteria

3 other

 

Ipi: 311 (100%)

224 disease progression

52 study drug toxicity

1 death

6 adverse events

13 patient request

1 withdrew consent

4 maximum clinical

benefit

1 poor/non-compliance

6 administrative

reasons

3 other

Outcome measures and effect size (include 95%CI and p-value if available):

 

Larkin 2015

Median progression-free survival:

Nivo: 6.9 months (95% CI 4.3-9.5)

Nivo + ipi: 11.5 months (95% CI 8.9-16.7)

Ipi: 2.9 months (95% CI 2/8-3.4)

HR nivo+ipi vs ipi 0.42; 99.5% CI, 0.31 to 0.57

HR nivo+ipi vs nivo 0.74 (95% CI, 0.60 to 0.92)

HR nivo vs ipi HR, 0.57; 99.5% CI, 0.43 to 0.76.

 

Adverse events:

Nivo: 257 (82.1%)

Nivo+ipi: 299 (95.5%)

Ipi: 268 (86.2%)

 

Treatment related grade 3 and 4:

Nivo: 51 (16.3%)

Nivo+ipi: 172 (55.0%)

Ipi: 85 (27.3%)

 

Quality of life:

Not reported.

 

Wolchock 2017

Median progression-free survival:

Nivo: 6.9 months (95% CI, 5.1 to 9.7)

Nivo + ipi: 11.5 months (95% CI 8.9-19.3)

Ipi: 2.9 months (95% CI 2.8-3.2)

HR nivo+ipi vs ipi 0.43 (95% CI, 0.35 to 0.52)

HR nivo+ipi vs nivo 0.78 (95% CI, 0.64 to 0.96)

HR nivo vs ipi HR, 0.55 (95% CI, 0.45 to 0.66)

 

Overall survival at 2 years:

Nivo: 59%

Nivo+ipi: 64%

Ipi: 45%

 

Overall survival at 3 years:

Nivo: 52%

Nivo+ipi: 58%

Ipi: 34%

 

Median overall survival:

Nivo: 37.6 months; 95% CI, 29.1 to not reached

Nivo+ipi: not reached

Ipi: 19.9 months; 95% CI, 16.9 to 24.6

 

Adverse events:

Nivo: 270 (86)

Nivo+ipi: 300 (96)

Ipi: 268 (86)

 

Treatment related grade 3 and 4:

Nivo: 67 (21)

Nivo+ipi: 184 (59)

Ipi: 86 (28)

 

Quality of life:

Not reported.

 

Hodi 2018:

Median progression-free survival:

Nivo: 6.9 months (95% CI, 5.1 to 10.2)

Nivo + ipi: 11.5 months (95% CI 8.7–19.3)

Ipi: 2.9 months (95% CI 2.8-3.2)

HR nivo+ipi vs ipi 0.42 (95% CI, 0.35 to 0.51)

HR nivo+ipi vs nivo 0.79 (95% CI, 0.65 to 0.97)

HR nivo vs ipi HR, 0.53 (95% CI, 0.44 to 0.64)

 

Median overall survival

Nivo: 36·9 months (28·3–not reached)

Nivo+ipi: not

reached (95% CI 38·2–not reached)

Ipi: 19·9 months (16·9–24·6)

 

Overall survival at 4 years:

Nivo: 46% (41−52)

Nivo+ipi: 53%

(95% CI 47−58)

Ipi: 30% (25−35)

 

Adverse events:

Nivo: 270 (86)

Nivo+ipi: 300 (96)

Ipi: 268 (86)

 

Treatment related grade 3 and 4:

Nivo: 70 (22%)

Nivo+ipi: 185 (59%)

Ipi: 86 (28%)

 

Quality of life:

Not reported.

 

Larkin 2019

Median progression-free survival:

Nivo: 6.9 months (95% CI, 5.1 to 10.2)

Nivo + ipi: 11.5 months (95% CI, 8.7 to 19.3)

Ipi: 2.9 months (95% CI 2.8-3.2)

 

Median overall survival

Nivo: 36.9 months (95% CI,

28.2 to 58.7)

Nivo+ipi: 60.0

months (median not reached; 95% confidence

interval [CI], 38.2 to not reached)

Ipi: 19.9

months (95% CI, 16.8 to 24.6)

 

Overall survival at 5 years:

Nivo: 44%

Nivo+ipi: 52%

Ipi: 26%

 

Adverse events:

Nivo: 271 (87)

Nivo+ipi: 300 (96)

Ipi: 268 (86)

 

Treatment related grade 3 and 4:

Nivo: 73 (23%)

Nivo+ipi: 186 (59%)

Ipi: 86 (28%)

 

Quality of life:

Not reported.

Wolchok 2022

 

Median progression-free survival:

Nivo: 6.9 months (95% CI, 5.1 to 10.2)

Nivo + ipi: 11.5 months (95% CI, 8.7 to 19.3)

Ipi: 2.9 months (95% CI 2.8-3.2)

 

Median overall survival

Nivo: 36.9 months (95% CI,

28.2 to 58.7)

Nivo+ipi: 72.1 months (38.2 to not reached)

Ipi: 19.9

months (95% CI, 16.8 to 24.6)

 

Overall survival at 6.5 years:

Nivo: 42%

Nivo+ipi: 49%

Ipi: 23%

 

Adverse events:

Nivo: 271 (87)

Nivo+ipi: 300 (96)

Ipi: 268 (86)

 

Treatment related grade 3 and 4:

Nivo: 73 (23%)

Nivo+ipi: 186 (59%)

Ipi: 86 (28%)

 

Quality of life:

Not reported.

 

-Subgroup analyses performed on PD-L1 status, BRAF mutation status, and metastasis stage.

Robert, 2019 Carlino, 2018
Schachter, 2017
Robert, 2015

KEYNOTE-006

NCT01866319

International, randomized,

open-label phase 3 study.

 

In 16 countries.

 

Patient enrolment: From September 18, 2013, to March 3, 2014.

 

Funding and conflicts of interest:

  • The sponsors, Merck Sharp & Dohme,

contributed to:

  • Trial design
  • Statisticians and a science writer were employed by the sponsor.

Disclosure forms provided by the authors are available with the full text of this article.

Inclusion criteria:

  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • Histologically confirmed, unresectable stage III or IV melanoma who received no more than one previous systemic therapy for advanced disease
  • Known BRAF V600 mutational status was required;
  • previous BRAF inhibitor therapy was not required for patients with normal lactate dehydrogenase levels
  • no clinically significant tumor-related symptoms or evidence of rapidly progressive disease.
  • ECOG PS of 0 or 1
  • Provision of a tumor sample adequate for assessing PD-L1 expression.

 

Exclusion criteria:

  • Patients who had received previous therapy with CTLA-4, PD-1, or PD-L1 inhibitors
  • Ocular melanoma
  • Active brain metastases
  • History of serious autoimmune disease.

 

Mean age, years

Ia: 61 (18–89)

Ib: 63 (22–89)

C: 62 (18–88)

 

Male, n (%)

Ia: 161 (57.7)

Ic: 174 (62.8)

C: 162 (58.3)

 

ECOG PS:

0 – Ia: 196 (70.3)

0 – Ib: 189 (68.2)

0 – C: 188 (67.6)

1 – Ia: 83 (29.7)

1 – Ib: 88 (31.8)

1 – C: 90 (32.4)

 

PD-L1-positive tumours:

80.6%

 

Groups were comparable at baseline.

Ia:

pembrolizumab at a dose of 10 mg per kilogram of body weight every 2 weeks

n= 279

 

Ib:
pembrolizumab at a dose of 10 mg per kilogram of body weight either every 3 weeks

n=277

 

C:
Four cycles of ipilimumab at a

dose of 3 mg per kilogram every 3 weeks

n=278

 

Robert, 2019:

Median follow-up for survival: 57.7 months (IQR 56.7–59.2).

 

Carlino, 2018:

Median follow-up: 33.9 months.

 

Schachter, 2017:

Median follow-up:

22.9 months

 

Discontinued treatment:

Ia: 147 progressive disease

29 adverse events

2 deaths

2 complete responses

21 other

 

Ib: 139 progressive disease

45 adverse events

1 death

5 complete responses

23 other

 

C: 46 progressive disease

35 adverse events

5 deaths

24 other

 

Withdrew consent and did not receive

treatment:

Ia: n=1

C: n=22

 

Robert, 2015:

Median follow-up at data cutoff (with 502 events reported), months: 7.9 (range: 6.1 to 11.5)

 

March 3, 2015:

Follow-up for OS:

Minimum follow-up: 12 months with 289 deaths occurred

 

Mean duration of exposure, days:

Ia: 164

Ib: 151

C: 50

 

Rate discontinuation of a study drug because of treatment related

AEs:

Ia: 4.0%,

Ib: 6.9%,

C: 9.4%,

 

 

Robert, 2019:

Median OS:
I (pooled groups): 32.7 months (95% CI 24·5–41·6)

C: 15.9 months (13.3–22.0)

HR: 0.73 (95% CI 0.61–0.88, p=0·00049).

Median PFS:
I (pooled groups): 8.4 months (95% CI 6.6–11.3)

C: 3.4 months (2.9–4.2)

HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.48–0.67,

p<0.0001.

 

Grade 3–4 treatment-related AEs:
I (pooled groups): 96 (17%)

C: 50 (20%)

 

Treatment-related sepsis.

C: n=1

 

Schachter, 2017:

Death: n=383

 

Median OS:
Ia: not reached (range 22.1 months–not reached)

Ib: not reached (23.5 months–not reached)

C: 16.0 months (range 13.5–22.0)

HR pembro every 2 weeks vs ipi: 0.68, 95% CI 0·53–0·87; p=0·0009

HR pembro every 3 weeks vs ipi: 0.68, 0·53–0·86; p=0·0008.

 

2 year OS rate:

Ia: 55% (95% CI 49–61)

Ib: 55% (95% CI 49–61)

C: 43% (95% CI 37–49)

 

PFS events: n= 566

I (pooled groups): 364 (65%)

C: 202 (35%)

 

Median PFS, months:

Ia: 5.6 months (range 3.4–8.2)

Ib: 4.1 months (range 2.9–7.2)

C: 2.8 months (range 2.8–2.9)

HR for both Pembro schedules vs ipi: 0.61; 95% CI 0·50–0·75; p<0·0001

HR for Ia vs Ib: 0.95; 95% CI

0·77–1·17; p=0·62).

 

2-year PFS rate:

Ia: 31%

Ib: 28%

C: 14%

 

Treatment related AEs grade 3 to 5:

Ia: 47 (17%) of 278

Ib: 46 (17%) of 277

C: 50 (20%) of 256

 

Robert, 2015:

Median overall survival was not reached in any study group.

 

1-Year OS:

Ia: 74.1%

Ib: 68.4%

C: 58.2%

  • HR for death for pembrolizumab every 2 weeks versus ipilimumab: 0.63; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.83; P<0.0005
  •  HR for death for pembrolizumab every 3 weeks versus ipilimumab: 0.69; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.90; P = 0.0036

 

Median PFS, months (95% CI):

Ia: 5.5 (95% CI, 3.4 to 6.9)

Ib: 4.1 (95% CI, 2.9 to 6.9)

C: 2.8 (95% CI, 2.8 to 2.9)

  • HR for progression for pembrolizumab every 2 weeks versus ipilimumab: 0.58 (95% CI, 0.46 to 0.72; P<0.001)
  • HR for pembrolizumab every 3 weeks versus ipilimumab: 0.58 (95% CI, 0.47 to 0.72; P<0.001).

 

6-month PFS, months:

Ia: 47.3%

Ib: 46.4%

C: 26.5%

 

Treatment related AEs grade 3 to 5:

Ia: 13.3%

Ib: 10.1%

C: 19.9%

 

Drug-related deaths, n:

Ia: 0

Ib: 0

C: 1

 

For more information on AEs see results section of the article.

Co-primary endpoints were OS and PFS.

Robert, 2019:

  •  Data cutoff: Dec 3, 2018.

Carlino, 2018:

  •  Data cutoff: 03 Nov 2016.
  • Reported outcomes by line of therapy and PD-L1 expression

Schachter, 2017:

  •  Data cutoff: Dec 3, 2015.

Robert, 2015:

  • Data cutoff 1st interim analysis: Sep 3, 2014 (PFS and AEs)
  • Data cutoff 2nd interim analysis: Mar 3, 2015 (OS).
  • OS results for the pembrolizumab groups were superior to those for the ipilimumab group. The independent data and safety monitoring committee recommended stopping the study early.

 

Authors conclusions:

Robert, 2019:

Pembrolizumab continued to show superiority over ipilimumab after almost 5 years of follow-up.

These results provide further support for use of pembrolizumab in patients with advanced melanoma.

 

Carlino, 2018:
Findings support pembrolizumab monotherapy as standard of care in patients

with advanced melanoma, regardless of first- or second-line therapy or PD-L1 status.

 

Schachter, 2017:

Substantiating the results of the interim analyses of KEYNOTE-006, pembrolizumab continued to provide superior overall survival versus ipilimumab, with no difference between pembrolizumab dosing schedules. These conclusions further support the use of pembrolizumab as a standard of care for advanced melanoma.

 

Robert, 2015:

The anti–PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab prolonged progression-free survival and overall survival and had less high-grade toxicity than did ipilimumab in patients with advanced melanoma.

 

 

Chesney, 2023

MASTERKEY-265

NCT02263508

A multicenter, double-blind, placebo controlled,

randomized phase III study in 21 countries.

 

Patient enrolment between: March 17, 2016, through April 26, 2018.

 

Funding and conflicts of interest:

-               Supported by Amgen Inc and Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of

Merck & Co, Inc, Rahway, NJ.

The sponsors contributed to:

  • Medical writing support

-               Authors’ disclosures of potential conflict of interest is provided at the end of the full text article.

Main Inclusion criteria:

  • Histologically confirmed stage IIIB-IV M1c unresectable melanoma
  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • ECOG PS 0 or 1
  • At least one visceral or nodal/soft tissue melanoma lesion for which the longest diameter was ≥ 10 mm
  • In/exclusion criteria with regard to prior therapy for patients with BRAF-mutated melanoma is specified in the article.

 

Exclusion criteria:

  • Active untreated brain metastases
  • Primary uveal or mucosal melanoma
  • Prior therapy with T-VEC or any other oncolytic viruses
  • Prior therapy with anti–PD-1/PD-L1/PD-L2 agents
  • Prior therapy with tumor vaccine in the nonadjuvant setting
  • History of autoimmune diseases
  • Evidence of immunosuppression therapy for > 2 weeks or < 7 days prior to the first dose of study
  • Active herpetic skin lesions
  • Current treatment with antiherpetic drug.

 

For more information on in-/exclusion see the article.

 

Median age, years (range)

I: 64 (26-92)

C: 64 (19-94)

 

Male, n (%)

I: 199 (57.5)

C: 219 (63.3)

 

ECOG PS:

0 – I: 259 (74.9)

0 – C: 249 (72.0)

1 – I: 87 (25.1)

1 – C: 97 (28.0)

 

Groups were comparable at baseline.

I: A combination of T-VEC plus pembrolizumab (T-VEC-pembrolizumab)

n=346

 

T-VEC was administered at

≤ 4 x 106 plaque-forming unit followed by ≤ 4 x 108 PFU 3 weeks later and once every 2 weeks until dose 5 and once every 3 weeks thereafter.

 

Pembrolizumab was administered intravenously 200 mg once every 3 weeks.

C: Placebo plus pembrolizumab (placebo-pembrolizumab

n=346

 

Pembrolizumab was administered intravenously 200 mg once every 3 weeks.

Median follow-up in months:

  • 25.58 (range, 0.3-45.8) for the PFS primary analysis.
  • 31.0 (range, 0.3-53.0) for the second OS interim analysis.
  • 35.56 (range, 0.3-58.4) for the final analysis

 

Discontinued study:

I: n = 152

Death n = 131

Withdrawal of consent n = 15

Lost to follow-up n=6

 

C: n = 170

Death n = 142

Withdrawal of consent n = 22

Lost to follow-up n = 6

 

April 2020, all patients discontinued study treatments.

The final analysis was performed early given the futility noted in the second interim analysis and included an additional follow-up of 6 months.

Deaths at planned second interim OS analysis:

I: 136 (39.3%)

C: 146 (42.2%)

 

Median OS, months (95% CI):

I: Not estimable

C: 49.2 (40.57 to not estimable)

HR of 0.96 (95% CI, 0.76 to 1.22; P = .74)

 

The primary analysis of PFS was to be performed after 407 PFS events occurred.

 

Median PFS (95% CI) (months):

I: 14.3 (10.25 to 22.11)

C: 8.5 (5.72 to 13.54)

Stratified log-rank: HR, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.71 to 1.04), P=.13

 

Treatment related AEs grade 3 or 4:

I: 70 (20.3%)

C: 54 (15.7%)

 

Fatal AEs:

I: 45 (13.1%)

C: 42 (12.2%)

 

Treatment related fatal AEs, n:

I: 4 (1.2%)

C: 1 (0.3%)

 

Immune-related AEs:

I: 27.5%

C: 24.8%

 

For more information on AEs see results section of the article

 

At final analysis:

  • PFS overall stratified HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.72 to 1.06
  • OS: overall stratified HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.77 to 1.21)

No new safety signals were observed.

  • The dual primary end points were PFS and OS.
  • Data cutoff dates:
    Mar 2, 2020, for the PFS primary analysis;

Sep 29, 2020, for the second interim OS analysis;

Mar 26, 2021, the final analysis.

  • On June 12, 2020, the DMC met to review data from the PFS primary analysis and recommended that the study continues as planned.
  • On December 22, 2020, the DMC reviewed the efficacy and safety data from the second OS interim analysis. The DMC indicated that the futility boundary for OS was crossed and recommended that no further study-related procedures are conducted.
  • On January 8, 2021, the study was unblinded and proceeded directly to a final analysis conducted in an unblinded manner.
  • All patients were off study treatment as of April 2020. The last visit date for the final analysis was March 11, 2021.
  • No improvement in OS was observed in any of the predefined subgroups.
  • Sensitivity analysis were performed:
    - which censored patients at the time of

subsequent anticancer therapy

  • excluding patients with stage IVM1c disease
  • second-line therapies were generally balanced between the arms, and the crossover rate from the placebo arm to receive subsequent T-VEC treatment was<5%

 

Authors conclusions:

This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multicenter, international phase III trial did not show improved PFS or OS for the combination of T-VEC plus pembrolizumab

compared with placebo plus pembrolizumab for immunotherapy- naïve patients with advanced melanoma in the frontline setting. There were no new safety concerns with the addition of T-VEC to pembrolizumab, and the safety profile of the combination was consistent with the known safety profile

of each drug.

Andtbacka, 2019

Andtbacka, 2015

OPTiM

NCT00769704

A randomized open-label phase III trial at 64 sites in the United States, the United

Kingdom, Canada, and South Africa.

 

Patient enrolment between: 2009 and 2011

 

Funding and conflicts of interest:

-               Funded by BioVex, who were subsequently acquired by Amgen Inc. during the OPTiM trial.

The sponsor contributed to:

  • Design of the trial
  • Data collection
  • Data analysis
  • Interpretation of data
  • Development of the manuscript.

-               A competing interests statement is provided at the end of the full text article.

Main inclusion criteria:

  • ≥ 18 years
  • Histologically confirmed, unresectable, bidimensionally measurable stage IIIB/C/IV melanoma with ≥1 cutaneous, subcutaneous or nodal lesions that was suitable for direct or ultrasound-guided injection;
  • ECOG PS ≤1
  • Serum lactate dehydrogenase ≤1.5 × upper limit of normal;
  • ≤3 visceral lesions (excl. lung or nodal lesions associated with visceral organs) with none > 3 cm;
  • Adequate organ function.
  • Patients with history of autoimmune disease, but not use of high-dose steroids.

 

Exclusion criteria:

  • Requiring intermittent or chronic treatment with an antiviral agent (eg, acyclovir) or high-dose steroids
  • Primary ocular or mucosal melanoma
  • Bone metastases
  • Active cerebral metastases
  • > 3 visceral metastases
  • Any visceral metastasis >3 cm
  • Liver metastases had to be stable for 1 month before random assignment.

 

For more information on in-/exclusion see the article.

 

Median age, years (range)

I: 63 (22 to 94)

C: 64 (26 to 91)

 

Male, n (%)

I: 173 (59%)

C: 77 (55%)

 

ECOG PS:

0 – I: 209 (71%)

0 – C: 97 (69%)

1 – I: 82 (28%)

1 – C: 32 (23%)

Unknown:

I: 4 (1%)

C: 12 (9%)

 

Groups were comparable at baseline.

I: intratumoral Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) (at the approved dose)

n= 295 (68%)

 

 

C: subcutaneous

recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating

factor (GM-CSF)

n= 141 (32%)

Median follow-up in the final analysis of OS: 49 months.

 

Median duration of treatment in weeks (range):

I: 23.1 (0.1–176.7)

C: 10.0 (0.6–120.0)

 

Andtbacka, 2015:

Discontinued T-VEC: n=291

Disease progression:

n=191

PR or CR for ≥ 6 continuous months:

n=42

Maximum allowed dose without

PR/CR: n=26

Adverse event: n=11

Consent withdrawn: n=10

Physician decision: n=6

Death: n=5

 

Discontinued GM-CSF: n=127

Disease progression: n=95

PR or CR for ≥ 6 continuous months: n=0

Maximum allowed dose without

PR/CR: n=9

Adverse event: n=3

Consent withdrawn: n=12

Physician decision: n=5

Death: n=3

Intent-to treat population (stage IIIB–IVM1c melanoma):

Median OS, months (95% CI):

I: 23.3 (19.5–29.6)

C: 18.9 (16.0–23.7)

unstratified HR for death, 0.79 (95% CI,0.62–1.00); P = 0.0494).

 

Estimated 5-year survival

I: 33.4%

C: Not estimable

 

Stage IIIB–IVM1a disease

Effect of T-VEC on OS vs GM-CSF:

  • Stage IIIB/C: HR, 0.48, P < 0.05

Effect of T-VEC on OS vs ITT population including stage IVM1b/c disease:

  • Stage IIIB–IVM1a: HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.40–0.79; P < 0.001

Estimated 5-year

survival with T-VEC:

  • Stage IIIB–IVM1a melanoma: 48.9% (95% CI, 40.6–56.7)
  • Stage IVM1b/c disease: 15.1% (95% CI, 9.3–22.2).

 

Treatment related AEs grade 3/4:

I: 33 (11.3%)

C: 6 (4.7%)

 

Immune-related AEs:

I: 24/295

C: ?

 

Immune-related AEs grade 3: n=4

 

Immune-related AEs grade 4: None reported

 

Treatment-related deaths, n:

I: 0

C: 0

 

For more information on AEs see results section of the article

  •  Primary end point: durable response rate (objective response lasting continuously ≥ 6 months) per independent

assessment. Key secondary end points: OS and overall response rate

  • Data cut-off for this final analysis of OPTiM was 5 September 2014.
  • 4 patients in the T-VEC arm and 14 in the GM-CSF arm did not receive T-VEC or GM-CSF.
  • When the 18 patients who did not receive allocated treatment were excluded (T-VEC arm, n =4; GM-CSF arm, n = 14), median OS in the final analysis dataset was 24.5 versus 18.9 months for T-VEC versus GM-CSF (HR, 0.78; P = 0.0439).
  • Ad-hoc sensitivity analysis for OS accounting for subsequent systemic anti-cancer treatment, there was a 27% reduction in the risk of death for T-VEC versus GM-CSF (unadjusted HR, 0.73; 95% Cl, 0.59–0.92; P = 0.0069).

 

Authors conclusions:

Andtbacka, 2019:

In conclusion, as well as demonstrating a longer-term effect on survival, this analysis confirms that T-VEC resulted in high CR rates, most notably in patients with

early metastatic melanoma (stage IIIB–IVM1a). Once achieved, CRs were durable and associated with prolonged survival. The favorable clinical outcomes observed in some patients treated with T-VEC, along with

its good safety profile, support continued efforts to further define its future role in melanoma as a combination partner with immunotherapy.

 

Andtbacka, 2015:

T-VEC is the first oncolytic immunotherapy to demonstrate therapeutic benefit against melanoma

in a phase III clinical trial. T-VEC was well tolerated and resulted in a higher DRR (P<0.001) and

longer median OS (P=0.051), particularly in untreated patients or those with stage IIIB, IIIC, or IVM1a disease. T-VEC represents a novel potential therapy for patients with metastatic melanoma.

Beoordelingsdatum en geldigheid

Publicatiedatum  : 09-10-2025

Beoordeeld op geldigheid  : 01-08-2025

De richtlijnmodules zijn geautoriseerd door de: Nederlandse Vereniging voor Heelkunde, Nederlandse Vereniging voor Dermatologie en Venereologie, Nederlandse Internisten Vereniging, Nederlandse Vereniging voor Nucleaire Geneeskunde, Nederlandse Vereniging voor Radiologie, Nederlandse Vereniging voor Pathologie, Verpleegkundigen & Verzorgenden Nederland.

Initiatief en autorisatie

Initiatief:
  • Nederlandse Internisten Vereniging
  • Nederlandse Vereniging voor Heelkunde
Geautoriseerd door:
  • Nederlandse Internisten Vereniging
  • Nederlandse Vereniging voor Dermatologie en Venereologie
  • Nederlandse Vereniging voor Nucleaire geneeskunde
  • Nederlandse Vereniging voor Radiotherapie en Oncologie
  • Nederlandse Vereniging voor Heelkunde
  • Nederlandse Vereniging voor Pathologie
  • Nederlandse Vereniging voor Radiologie
  • Verpleegkundigen en Verzorgenden Nederland
  • Vereniging Klinische Genetica Nederland

Algemene gegevens

De ontwikkeling/herziening van deze richtlijnmodule werd ondersteund door het Kennisinstituut van de Federatie Medisch Specialisten (www.demedischspecialist.nl/kennisinstituut) en werd gefinancierd uit de Stichting Kwaliteitsgelden Medisch Specialisten (SKMS). De financier heeft geen enkele invloed gehad op de inhoud van de richtlijnmodule.

Samenstelling werkgroep

Voor het ontwikkelen van de richtlijnmodule is in 2017 een multidisciplinaire werkgroep ingesteld, bestaande uit vertegenwoordigers van alle relevante specialismen (zie hiervoor de Samenstelling van de werkgroep) die betrokken zijn bij de zorg voor patiënten met Melanoom.

 

Huidige samenstelling van de werkgroep:

  • Dr. A.A.M. (Astrid) van der Veldt, voorzitter, internist-oncoloog, werkzaam in het Erasmus Medisch Centrum, NIV
  • Dr. M.J.B. (Maureen) Aarts, internist-oncoloog, werkzaam in het Maastricht Universitair Medisch Centrum, NIV
  • Prof. dr. A.J.M. (Fons) van den Eertwegh, internist-oncoloog, werkzaam in het Amsterdam Universitair Medisch Centrum, NIV
  • Dr. M. (Hilde) Jalving, internist-oncoloog, werkzaam in het Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen, NIV
  • Dr. S. (Sofie) Wilgenhof, internist-oncoloog, werkzaam in het Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, NIV
  • Dr. J.J. (Han) Bonenkamp, chirurgisch oncoloog, werkzaam in het Radboudumc, NVvH
  • Dr. D.J. (Dirk) Grünhagen, chirurgisch oncoloog, werkzaam in het Erasmus Medisch Centrum, NVvH
  • Dr. A.B. (Anne Brecht) Francken, chirurgisch oncoloog, werkzaam in het Isala, NVvH
  • Dr. E.I. (Elsemieke) Plasmeijer, dermatoloog, werkzaam in het Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, NVDV
  • Dr. R. (Remco) van Doorn, dermatoloog, werkzaam in het Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, NVDV
  • Dr. Q.G. (Quido) de Lussanet de la Sablonière, nucleair radioloog, werkzaam in het Erasmus Medisch Centrum, NVvR
  • Dr. E.H.J.G. (Erik) Aarntzen, nucleair geneeskundige, werkzaam in het Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen, NVNG
  • Drs. B.A. (Beatrijs) Seinstra, radioloog, werkzaam in het Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, NVvR
  • H.C. (Hanna) van der Pol, MSC, verpleegkundig specialist melanoom, werkzaam in het Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, V&VN
  • Dr. T.P. (Thomas) Potjer, klinisch geneticus, werkzaam in het Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, VKGN
  • Dr. W.A.M. (Willeke) Blokx, patholoog, werkzaam in het Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht, NVVP
  • Dr. A.M.L. (Anne) Jansen, klinisch moleculair bioloog in de pathologie, werkzaam in het Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht, NVVP
  • K. (Koen) van Elst, Stichting Melanoom

Met speciale dank aan:

  • Dr. B. Leeneman, Universitair docent, werkzaam in het Erasmus Medisch Centrum (bijdrage aan de doelmatigheidsmodule)

 Met ondersteuning van:

  • Dr. D. (Dagmar) Nieboer, senior adviseur, Kennisinstituut van de Federatie Medisch Specialisten
  • Dr. R.J.S. (Rayna) Anijs, adviseur, Kennisinstituut van de Federatie Medisch Specialisten
  • Dr. L. (Lisanne) Verbruggen, adviseur, Kennisinstituut van de Federatie Medisch Specialisten
  • Drs. F. (Fieke) Pepping, junior adviseur, Kennisinstituut van de Federatie Medisch Specialisten

Voormalig betrokken werkgroepleden:

  • Drs. J.G.M. (Anne) van den Hoek, radiotherapeut, werkzaam in het Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen, NVRO (tot en met juni 2024)
  • Drs. B. (Bernies) van der Hiel, nucleair geneeskundige, werkzaam in het werkzaam in het Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, NVNG (tot en met mei 2024)
  • Drs. A. (Annemarie) Bruining, radioloog, werkzaam in het Nederlands Kanker Instituut, NVVR (tot en met mei 2024)

 

Belangenverklaringen

De Code ter voorkoming van oneigenlijke beïnvloeding door belangenverstrengeling is gevolgd. Alle werkgroepleden hebben schriftelijk verklaard of zij in de laatste drie jaar directe financiële belangen (betrekking bij een commercieel bedrijf, persoonlijke financiële belangen, onderzoeksfinanciering) of indirecte belangen (persoonlijke relaties, reputatiemanagement) hebben gehad. Gedurende de ontwikkeling of herziening van een module worden wijzigingen in belangen aan de voorzitter doorgegeven. De belangenverklaring wordt opnieuw bevestigd tijdens de commentaarfase.

 

Een overzicht van de belangen van werkgroepleden en het oordeel over het omgaan met eventuele belangen vindt u in onderstaande tabel. De ondertekende belangenverklaringen zijn op te vragen bij het secretariaat van het Kennisinstituut van de Federatie Medisch Specialisten.

Werkgroeplid

Functie

Nevenfuncties

Gemelde belangen

Ondernomen actie

Veldt, van der (voorzitter)

Internist-oncoloog, afdeling Interne Oncologie (0,8 fte) en afdeling Radiologie & Nucleaire Geneeskunde (0,2 fte) Erasmus MC, Rotterdam

Adviesraden: BMS, MSD, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Eisai, Sanofi, Pierre-Fabre en Ipsen. Betaald aan het instituut (Erasmus MC)
Roche (ook betaald aan het instituut Erasmus MC)

A.A.M. van der Veldt is principal investigator van meerdere studies van firma's (BMS, Exelexis, Novartis, Roche) en investigator-initiated studies (o.a. Safe Stop Trials) die financieel worden ondersteund door onder andere de zorgverzekeraars en non-profit organisaties

Participatie aan NADINA-trial

 

Actie ondernomen bij modules over systemische behandelingen Zie hiervoor ‘Werkwijze en toelichting belangen richtlijn Melanoom’

 

Aarts

Internist-oncoloog Maastricht Universitair Medisch Centrum

* Bestuurslid WIN-O (Werkgroep Immunotherapie Nederland voor Oncologie) melanoom en nierkanker (onbetaald)
* Bestuurslid TFG (tumor focus groep)-melanomen (Integraal kankercentrum Nederland) (onbetaald)
* Bestuurslid PRO-RCC (Prospectief Nederlands Nierkanker Cohort)
* Bestuurslid OncoZON (Oncologisch netwerk Zuid-Oost Nederland) melanoom
* Adviesraad (betaald) BMS, Novartis, AMGEN, MSD, Roche, Ispen, Pfizer, Eisai, Merck, Sanofi, Astellas

 

* Pfizer - Tyrosine Inhibitor effect op trombocyten - Co-promotor

Participatie aan NADINA-trial

 

Actie ondernomen bij modules over systemische behandelingen Zie hiervoor ‘Werkwijze en toelichting belangen richtlijn Melanoom’

 

Eertwegh, van den

Medisch-oncoloog, afdeling medische oncologie, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Voorzitter DMTR (Dutch Melanoma Treatment registry)(vacatiegeld aan Amsterdam UMC)

 

Adviesraad (betaald aan Amsterdam UMC): Bristol-Myers Squibb, MSD

Oncology, Ipsen, Pierre Fabre, Janssen Cilag BV

* Sanofi - Prostaat studies (cabazipet en RECAB) - Projectleider

* TEVA - prostaat studie (RECAB) - Projectleider

* Bristol-Myers Squibb - Onco-kompas - Geen projectleider

Huidig:"

* Idera - INTRIM melanoom studie - Projectleider

* Roche - REPOSIT melanoom studie - Projecteider

* Novartis, Pierre Fabre, MSD, BMS en ziektekosten - DMTR - Geen projectleider

 

PI NADINA-trial

Actie ondernomen bij modules over systemische behandelingen Zie hiervoor ‘Werkwijze en toelichting belangen richtlijn Melanoom’

 

Jalving

Internist-oncoloog, UMCG Groningen

Adviesraden: Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZenica,Pierre Fabre (betaald aan instituut (UMCG)

 

* KWF - TAMIC: Dichloroacetate in patients with metastatic melanoma prior to treatment with immune-checkpoint inhibition - Projectleider
* KWF - FORCE: Infrastructure for rare Cancers in the Netherlands - Geen projectleider

Actie ondernomen bij modules over systemische behandelingen Zie hiervoor ‘Werkwijze en toelichting belangen richtlijn Melanoom’

 

Wilgenhof

Internist-oncoloog in het Antoni van Leeuwenziekenhuis

Adviesraden: Eisai, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pierre Fabre, Novartis, Pfizer en lpsen (betaald aan instituut (AVL)); educatief symposium: MSD en Bristol-Myers Squibb (betaald aan insituut (AVL))

* EU Horizon 2020 (no 875052) - CAPABLE: Pilot study of the eHealth application Cancer Patients Better Life Experience - Geen Projectleider

* EU (101104801) - CARE-1: Optimizing Treatmensts for Metastatic Renal Carcinoma - Geen Projectleider

 

Studies:

principal investigator:

CA224020 studie (Clinicalîrials.gov number, NCT01968109)

R3767-ONC-2011 studie (NCT05352672) E2139 (NCT05270044)

vorinostat studie (NCT02836548)

 

subinvestigator:

TIL studie (Clinicalîrials.gov number, NCT02278887) NADINA studie (Clinicalîrials.gov number, NCT04949113) safe stop studie

safe stop ipi-nivo (NCT05652673) E1325 (NCT02362594)

NIVEC studie (NCT04330430)

NKTR-214 + nivolumab (NCT03635983) EBIN (NCT03235245)

DONIMI (NCT04133948)

MASTERKEY-115 (NCT04068181) IOB-013 (NCT05155254)

Actie ondernomen bij modules over systemische behandelingen Zie hiervoor ‘Werkwijze en toelichting belangen richtlijn Melanoom’

 

Bonenkamp

Chirurgisch oncoloog, RadboudUMC Nijmegen

* Lid DB TFG Melanoom (onbetaald)
* Lid bestuur WIN-O (onbetaald)
* Lid DB DMTR (onbetaald)
* Lid DB Dutch sarcoma Group

Geen

Geen actie

Grünhagen

Chirurg, Erasmus MC

Lid bestuur WIN-O melanoom, onbetaald

Deelname NADINA-trial

Geen actie

Francken

Chirurgisch oncoloog, Isala

* Voorzitter werkgroep audit NVvH
* Lid werkgroep endocriene chirurgue
* Lid werkgroep mammachirurgie

Geen

Geen actie

Plasmeijer

Dermatoloog, AVL

* Bestuurslid Win-O: onbetaald
* Lid JongCBG: 1500 EUR/jaar onkostenvergoeding
* Bestuurslid SCOPE (Skin Care in organ transplantrecipients Europe): onbetaald
* Lid NCI Keratinocyte Cancer Consortium (KeraCon) Immunosuppression Group: onbetaald
* Lid domeingroep NVDV dermatotherapie: onbetaald
* Raad van Advies HUKA's: onbetaald
* Raad van Advies Lacune NVDV (kennisagenda)

Geen

Geen actie

Doorn, van

Dermatoloog, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum

Onbetaald lid van enkele besturen (European Society for Dermatological Research, Nederlandse Vereniging voor Experimentele Dermatologie)
adviseur van Stichting Melanoom (onbetaald)

Stichting KiKA - Therapeutic targeting of congenital melanocytic naevus and childhood melanoma using FOXO4 anti-senescence peptides - Projectleider
Zeldzame Ziekten Fonds, onderzoek naar Familial Atypical Multiple Mole Melanoma syndrome
-Stichting Dioraphte, onderzoek naar farmacologische therapie voor congenitale melanocytaire nevi

Geen actie

Lussanet de la Sablonière

Nucleair- en Abdomen radioloog, Erasmus Medisch Centrum, Rotterdam

Geen

Geen

Geen actie

Aarntzen

Nucleair geneeskundige, UMC Groningen (0,8 fte)

* UMCGroningen, nucleair geneeskundige (0,8 fte)

* Radboudumc, post-doc onderzoeker (0,1 fte)

* Eberhard Karls University, Tuebingen, Duitsland (0,5 fte)

* Post-doc onderzoeker Radboudumc, betaald (0,1 fte)

* Post-doc onderzoeker Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen (Duitsland), betaald (0,05 fte)

 

* EU Innovatieve Health Initiative (IHI) - IMAGIO - IMAGING and advanced guidance for workflow optimalization in interventionaal oncology - Projectleider

* Bergh in het Zadel/ Radboud oncologie Fonds - 'Breek de barrière: 'een nieuwe lokale en gerichte behandelmethode voor alvleesklierkanker' - Projectleider

* ImaginAB Inc - iPREDICT, Trial: A phase IIB, Open Label, Study of 89Zr-crefmirlimab berdoxam PET/CT in Subjects with Selected Advanced or Metastetic Malignancies to ? - Geen projectleider site PI

* Bergh in het Zadel/Radboud oncologie Fonds - Inzet AI voor betere overleving niet-kleincellig longkanker - Projectleider

* ImaginAB Inc - (89Zr)Df-lAB22MC anti-CD8 minibody PET/CT-imaging to assess the in vivo distribution of CD8+ T-cells in COVID-19 patienst (NCT04874818) - Projectleider

* KWF - Imaging tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T-cells in  non-small cell lung cancer patienst upon neo-adjuvant treatment with Durvalumab - Projectleider

Geen actie

Seinstra

Radioloog - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Ziekenhuis

Betrokken bij NADINA-trial als mede-auteur

Geen

Geen actie

Van der Pol

Verpleegkkundig specialist, Antoni van Leeuwenhoekziekenhuis, Amsterdam

Geen

Geen

Geen actie

Potjer

Klinisch Geneticus, LUMC

Cluster expertisegroep Maligniteiten van de huid

Geen

Geen actie

Blokx

Klinisch patholoog, UMC Utrecht

Geen

Geen

Geen actie

Jansen

Klinisch Moleculair Bioloog in de Pathologie, UMC Utrecht

Bestuurslid Stichting PALGA (vacatiegelden)

Geen

Geen actie

Leeneman

Universitair docent, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam

Geen

* ZIN - Ontwikkeling van ziektemodel voor melanoom - Geen projectleider

* ZIN - Actualisatie van ziektemodel voor melanoom - Projectleider

Geen actie

Van der Elst

Manager Quality and Improvement, Contour Advanced Systems B.V.               

Bestuurslid Stichting Melanoom

Geen

Geen actie

Werkwijze en toelichting belangen richtlijn Melanoom

De Code ter voorkoming van oneigenlijke beïnvloeding door belangenverstrengeling is gevolgd. Alle werkgroepleden hebben schriftelijk verklaard of zij in de laatste drie jaar directe financiële belangen (betrekking bij een commercieel bedrijf, persoonlijke financiële belangen, onderzoeksfinanciering) of indirecte belangen (persoonlijke relaties, reputatiemanagement) hebben gehad. Gedurende de ontwikkeling of herziening van een module worden wijzigingen in belangen aan de voorzitter doorgegeven. De belangenverklaring wordt opnieuw bevestigd tijdens de commentaarfase.

 

De NIV heeft vastgesteld dat het niet mogelijk was werkgroepleden af te vaardigen met voldoende expertise zonder potentiële belangenverstrengeling. Het gaat daarbij met name om werkgroepleden die deelnemen aan adviesraden/kennisuitwisselingsbijeenkomsten met de farmaceutische industrie of deel nemen of hebben genomen als onderzoeker van een klinische studie. Gedurende de ontwikkeling van de [richtlijn / modules] heeft daarom afstemming plaatsgevonden tussen de werkgroepvoorzitter, de belangencommissie van het Kennisinstituut van de Federatie Medisch Specialisten en de NIV over passende acties naar aanleiding van de gemelde belangen.

 

Restricties voor de modules over onderwerpen (medicamenteuze behandeling) waar de adviesraden betrekking op hebben:

  • Werkgroeplid werkt niet als enige inhoudsdeskundige aan de module;
  • Werkgroeplid werkt tenminste samen met een werkgroeplid met een vergelijkbare expertise in alle fasen (zoeken, studieselectie, data-extractie, evidence synthese, Evidence-to-decision, aanbevelingen formuleren) van het ontwikkelproces. Indien nodig worden werkgroepleden toegevoegd aan de werkgroep;
  • In alle fasen van het ontwikkelproces is een onafhankelijk methodoloog betrokken;
  • Overwegingen en aanbevelingen worden besproken en vastgesteld tijdens een werkgroepvergadering onder leiding van een onafhankelijk voorzitter (zonder gemelde belangen).

Aansluitend op de reguliere commentaarronde bij de achterban van de bij de richtlijn betrokken wetenschappelijke verenigingen, hebben (een aantal) leden van richtlijn- en kwaliteitscommissie van de NIV en een methodoloog van het Kennisinstituut die niet betrokken waren bij ontwikkeling van de modules, aanvullend beoordeeld of de aanbevelingen logischerwijs aansluiten bij het gevonden bewijs en de overwegingen, om de onafhankelijkheid van de richtlijn te waarborgen.

 

Wellicht ten overvloede willen wij erop wijzen dat medisch specialistische richtlijnen niet worden vastgesteld door de betreffende richtlijnwerkgroep maar door de besturen/ledenvergadering van de betrokken verenigingen.

 

Een overzicht van de belangen van werkgroepleden en het oordeel over het omgaan met eventuele belangen vindt u in onderstaande tabel. De ondertekende belangenverklaringen zijn op te vragen bij het secretariaat van het Kennisinstituut van de Federatie Medisch Specialisten.

Inbreng patiëntenperspectief

Bij elke module is het patiëntperspectief meegenomen door de werkgroep. Er werd aandacht besteed aan het patiënten perspectief door een afgevaardigde van een patiëntenvereniging, de Stichting Melanoom, in de werkgroep te laten participeren.

 

NHG-standaard Verdachte huidafwijkingen

Voor huisartsen is de NHG-Standaard Verdachte huidafwijkingen leidend. Deze sluit aan op de richtlijn Melanoom.

 

Kwalitatieve raming van mogelijke financiële gevolgen in het kader van de Wkkgz

Bij de richtlijnmodule is conform de Wet kwaliteit, klachten en geschillen zorg (Wkkgz) een kwalitatieve raming uitgevoerd om te beoordelen of de aanbevelingen mogelijk leiden tot substantiële financiële gevolgen. Bij het uitvoeren van deze beoordeling is de richtlijnmodule op verschillende domeinen getoetst (zie het stroomschema op de Richtlijnendatabase).

Module

Uitkomst raming

Toelichting

Systemische therapie - Eerstelijnsbehandeling BRAF-wild type gemuteerd irresectabel of gemetastaseerde stadium III/IV

Geen substantiële financiële gevolgen

Hoewel uit de toetsing volgt dat de aanbeveling(en) breed toepasbaar zijn (5.000-40.000 patiënten), volgt ook uit de toetsing dat het geen nieuwe manier van zorgverlening of andere organisatie van zorgverlening betreft. Er worden daarom geen substantiële financiële gevolgen verwacht.

Werkwijze

AGREE

Deze richtlijnmodule is opgesteld conform de eisen vermeld in het rapport Medisch Specialistische Richtlijnen 2.0 van de adviescommissie Richtlijnen van de Raad Kwaliteit. Dit rapport is gebaseerd op het AGREE II instrument (Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II; Brouwers, 2010).

 

Knelpuntenanalyse en uitgangsvragen

De werkgroep beoordeelde de aanbeveling(en) uit de eerdere richtlijnmodules op noodzaak tot revisie.

 

Uitkomstmaten

Na het opstellen van de zoekvraag behorende bij de uitgangsvraag inventariseerde de werkgroep welke uitkomstmaten voor de patiënt relevant zijn, waarbij zowel naar gewenste als ongewenste effecten werd gekeken. Hierbij werd een maximum van acht uitkomstmaten gehanteerd. De werkgroep waardeerde deze uitkomstmaten volgens hun relatieve belang bij de besluitvorming rondom aanbevelingen, als cruciaal (kritiek voor de besluitvorming), belangrijk (maar niet cruciaal) en onbelangrijk. Tevens definieerde de werkgroep tenminste voor de cruciale uitkomstmaten welke verschillen zij klinisch (patiënt) relevant vonden.

 

Methode literatuursamenvatting

Een uitgebreide beschrijving van de strategie voor zoeken en selecteren van literatuur is te vinden onder ‘Zoeken en selecteren’ onder Onderbouwing. Indien mogelijk werd de data uit verschillende studies gepoold in een random-effects model. Review Manager 5.4 werd gebruikt voor de statistische analyses. De beoordeling van de kracht van het wetenschappelijke bewijs wordt hieronder toegelicht.

 

Beoordelen van de kracht van het wetenschappelijke bewijs

De kracht van het wetenschappelijke bewijs werd bepaald volgens de GRADE-methode. GRADE staat voor ‘Grading Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation’ (zie http://www.gradeworkinggroup.org/). De basisprincipes van de GRADE-methodiek zijn: het benoemen en prioriteren van de klinisch (patiënt) relevante uitkomstmaten, een systematische review per uitkomstmaat, en een beoordeling van de bewijskracht per uitkomstmaat op basis van de acht GRADE-domeinen (domeinen voor downgraden: risk of bias, inconsistentie, indirectheid, imprecisie, en publicatiebias; domeinen voor upgraden: dosis-effect relatie, groot effect, en residuele plausibele confounding).

 

GRADE onderscheidt vier gradaties voor de kwaliteit van het wetenschappelijk bewijs: hoog, redelijk, laag en zeer laag. Deze gradaties verwijzen naar de mate van zekerheid die er bestaat over de literatuurconclusie, in het bijzonder de mate van zekerheid dat de literatuurconclusie de aanbeveling adequaat ondersteunt (Schünemann, 2013; Hultcrantz, 2017).

GRADE

Definitie

Hoog

  • er is hoge zekerheid dat het ware effect van behandeling dichtbij het geschatte effect van behandeling ligt;
  • het is zeer onwaarschijnlijk dat de literatuurconclusie klinisch relevant verandert wanneer er resultaten van nieuw grootschalig onderzoek aan de literatuuranalyse worden toegevoegd.

Redelijk

  • er is redelijke zekerheid dat het ware effect van behandeling dichtbij het geschatte effect van behandeling ligt;
  • het is mogelijk dat de conclusie klinisch relevant verandert wanneer er resultaten van nieuw grootschalig onderzoek aan de literatuuranalyse worden toegevoegd.

Laag

  • er is lage zekerheid dat het ware effect van behandeling dichtbij het geschatte effect van behandeling ligt;
  • er is een reële kans dat de conclusie klinisch relevant verandert wanneer er resultaten van nieuw grootschalig onderzoek aan de literatuuranalyse worden toegevoegd.

Zeer laag

  • er is zeer lage zekerheid dat het ware effect van behandeling dichtbij het geschatte effect van behandeling ligt;
  • de literatuurconclusie is zeer onzeker.

Bij het beoordelen (graderen) van de kracht van het wetenschappelijk bewijs in richtlijnen volgens de GRADE-methodiek spelen grenzen voor klinische besluitvorming een belangrijke rol (Hultcrantz, 2017). Dit zijn de grenzen die bij overschrijding aanleiding zouden geven tot een aanpassing van de aanbeveling. Om de grenzen voor klinische besluitvorming te bepalen moeten alle relevante uitkomstmaten en overwegingen worden meegewogen. De grenzen voor klinische besluitvorming zijn daarmee niet één op één vergelijkbaar met het minimaal klinisch relevant verschil (Minimal Clinically Important Difference, MCID). Met name in situaties waarin een interventie geen belangrijke nadelen heeft en de kosten relatief laag zijn, kan de grens voor klinische besluitvorming met betrekking tot de effectiviteit van de interventie bij een lagere waarde (dichter bij het nuleffect) liggen dan de MCID (Hultcrantz, 2017).

 

Overwegingen (van bewijs naar aanbeveling)

Om te komen tot een aanbeveling zijn naast (de kwaliteit van) het wetenschappelijke bewijs ook andere aspecten belangrijk en worden meegewogen, zoals aanvullende argumenten uit bijvoorbeeld de biomechanica of fysiologie, waarden en voorkeuren van patiënten, kosten (middelenbeslag), aanvaardbaarheid, haalbaarheid en implementatie. Deze aspecten zijn systematisch vermeld en beoordeeld (gewogen) onder het kopje ‘Overwegingen’ en kunnen (mede) gebaseerd zijn op expert opinion. Hierbij is gebruik gemaakt van een gestructureerd format gebaseerd op het evidence-to-decision framework van de internationale GRADE Working Group (Alonso-Coello, 2016a; Alonso-Coello 2016b). Dit evidence-to-decision framework is een integraal onderdeel van de GRADE methodiek.

 

Formuleren van aanbevelingen

De aanbevelingen geven antwoord op de uitgangsvraag en zijn gebaseerd op het beschikbare wetenschappelijke bewijs en de belangrijkste overwegingen, en een weging van de gunstige en ongunstige effecten van de relevante interventies. De kracht van het wetenschappelijk bewijs en het gewicht dat door de werkgroep wordt toegekend aan de overwegingen, bepalen samen de sterkte van de aanbeveling. Conform de GRADE-methodiek sluit een lage bewijskracht van conclusies in de systematische literatuuranalyse een sterke aanbeveling niet a priori uit, en zijn bij een hoge bewijskracht ook zwakke aanbevelingen mogelijk (Agoritsas, 2017; Neumann, 2016). De sterkte van de aanbeveling wordt altijd bepaald door weging van alle relevante argumenten tezamen. De werkgroep heeft bij elke aanbeveling opgenomen hoe zij tot de richting en sterkte van de aanbeveling zijn gekomen.

 

In de GRADE-methodiek wordt onderscheid gemaakt tussen sterke en zwakke (of conditionele) aanbevelingen. De sterkte van een aanbeveling verwijst naar de mate van zekerheid dat de voordelen van de interventie opwegen tegen de nadelen (of vice versa), gezien over het hele spectrum van patiënten waarvoor de aanbeveling is bedoeld. De sterkte van een aanbeveling heeft duidelijke implicaties voor patiënten, behandelaars en beleidsmakers (zie onderstaande tabel). Een aanbeveling is geen dictaat, zelfs een sterke aanbeveling gebaseerd op bewijs van hoge kwaliteit (GRADE gradering HOOG) zal niet altijd van toepassing zijn, onder alle mogelijke omstandigheden en voor elke individuele patiënt.

Implicaties van sterke en zwakke aanbevelingen voor verschillende richtlijngebruikers

 

 

Sterke aanbeveling

Zwakke (conditionele) aanbeveling

Voor patiënten

De meeste patiënten zouden de aanbevolen interventie of aanpak kiezen en slechts een klein aantal niet.

Een aanzienlijk deel van de patiënten zouden de aanbevolen interventie of aanpak kiezen, maar veel patiënten ook niet.

Voor behandelaars

De meeste patiënten zouden de aanbevolen interventie of aanpak moeten ontvangen.

Er zijn meerdere geschikte interventies of aanpakken. De patiënt moet worden ondersteund bij de keuze voor de interventie of aanpak die het beste aansluit bij zijn of haar waarden en voorkeuren.

Voor beleidsmakers

De aanbevolen interventie of aanpak kan worden gezien als standaardbeleid.

Beleidsbepaling vereist uitvoerige discussie met betrokkenheid van veel stakeholders. Er is een grotere kans op lokale beleidsverschillen.

Organisatie van zorg

In de knelpuntenanalyse en bij de ontwikkeling van de richtlijnmodule is expliciet aandacht geweest voor de organisatie van zorg: alle aspecten die randvoorwaardelijk zijn voor het verlenen van zorg (zoals coördinatie, communicatie, (financiële) middelen, mankracht en infrastructuur). Randvoorwaarden die relevant zijn voor het beantwoorden van deze specifieke uitgangsvraag zijn genoemd bij de overwegingen. Meer algemene, overkoepelende, of bijkomende aspecten van de organisatie van zorg worden behandeld in de module Organisatie van zorg.

 

Commentaar- en autorisatiefase

De conceptrichtlijnmodule werd aan de betrokken (wetenschappelijke) verenigingen en (patiënt) organisaties voorgelegd ter commentaar. De commentaren werden verzameld en besproken met de werkgroep. Naar aanleiding van de commentaren werd de conceptrichtlijnmodule aangepast en definitief vastgesteld door de werkgroep. De definitieve richtlijnmodule werd aan de deelnemende (wetenschappelijke) verenigingen en (patiënt) organisaties voorgelegd voor autorisatie en door hen geautoriseerd dan wel geaccordeerd.

 

Literatuur

Agoritsas T, Merglen A, Heen AF, Kristiansen A, Neumann I, Brito JP, Brignardello-Petersen R, Alexander PE, Rind DM, Vandvik PO, Guyatt GH. UpToDate adherence to GRADE criteria for strong recommendations: an analytical survey. BMJ Open. 2017 Nov 16;7(11):e018593. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-018593. PubMed PMID: 29150475; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5701989.

 

Alonso-Coello P, Schünemann HJ, Moberg J, Brignardello-Petersen R, Akl EA, Davoli M, Treweek S, Mustafa RA, Rada G, Rosenbaum S, Morelli A, Guyatt GH, Oxman AD; GRADE Working Group. GRADE Evidence to Decision (EtD) frameworks: a systematic and transparent approach to making well informed healthcare choices. 1: Introduction. BMJ. 2016 Jun 28;353:i2016. doi: 10.1136/bmj.i2016. PubMed PMID: 27353417.

 

Alonso-Coello P, Oxman AD, Moberg J, Brignardello-Petersen R, Akl EA, Davoli M, Treweek S, Mustafa RA, Vandvik PO, Meerpohl J, Guyatt GH, Schünemann HJ; GRADE Working Group. GRADE Evidence to Decision (EtD) frameworks: a systematic and transparent approach to making well informed healthcare choices. 2: Clinical practice guidelines. BMJ. 2016 Jun 30;353:i2089. doi: 10.1136/bmj.i2089. PubMed PMID: 27365494.

 

Brouwers MC, Kho ME, Browman GP, Burgers JS, Cluzeau F, Feder G, Fervers B, Graham ID, Grimshaw J, Hanna SE, Littlejohns P, Makarski J, Zitzelsberger L; AGREE Next Steps Consortium. AGREE II: advancing guideline development, reporting and evaluation in health care. CMAJ. 2010 Dec 14;182(18):E839-42. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.090449. Epub 2010 Jul 5. Review. PubMed PMID: 20603348; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3001530.

 

Hultcrantz M, Rind D, Akl EA, Treweek S, Mustafa RA, Iorio A, Alper BS, Meerpohl JJ, Murad MH, Ansari MT, Katikireddi SV, Östlund P, Tranæus S, Christensen R, Gartlehner G, Brozek J, Izcovich A, Schünemann H, Guyatt G. The GRADE Working Group clarifies the construct of certainty of evidence. J Clin Epidemiol. 2017 Jul;87:4-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.05.006. Epub 2017 May 18. PubMed PMID: 28529184; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6542664.

 

Medisch Specialistische Richtlijnen 2.0 (2012). Adviescommissie Richtlijnen van de Raad Kwalitieit. http://richtlijnendatabase.nl/over_deze_site/over_richtlijnontwikkeling.html

 

Neumann I, Santesso N, Akl EA, Rind DM, Vandvik PO, Alonso-Coello P, Agoritsas T, Mustafa RA, Alexander PE, Schünemann H, Guyatt GH. A guide for health professionals to interpret and use recommendations in guidelines developed with the GRADE approach. J Clin Epidemiol. 2016 Apr;72:45-55. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2015.11.017. Epub 2016 Jan 6. Review. PubMed PMID: 26772609.

 

Schünemann H, Brożek J, Guyatt G, et al. GRADE handbook for grading quality of evidence and strength of recommendations. Updated October 2013. The GRADE Working Group, 2013. Available from http://gdt.guidelinedevelopment.org/central_prod/_design/client/handbook/handbook.html.

Volgende:
Pathologie