"Trends in Melanoma Phase 3 Clinical Trials since 2010: Is there Hope f" by Hanna H Kakish, Fasih Ali Ahmed et al.
 

Trends in Melanoma Phase 3 Clinical Trials since 2010: Is there Hope for Advanced Melanoma Therapies beyond Approved Treatment Mechanisms?

Publication/Presentation Date

10-22-2022

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Several drugs and treatment modalities are under investigation to improve current melanoma therapy options. This review profiles the trends in clinical trial investment in late-stage melanoma, and anticipates what changes are expected in melanoma treatment, with a focus on exploratory drug mechanisms.

METHODS: We reviewed nine international clinical trial databases for registered, interventional, and phase 3 cutaneous melanoma clinical trials since 2010.

RESULTS: 73 trials studied drug therapies in late-stage (stage III and IV) melanoma. Exploratory mechanisms were investigated in 32% (23/73) of the late-stage melanoma drug therapy trials. Most exploratory drug trials include immunotherapy drug mechanisms (15/23 trials). Two exploratory mechanisms showed promise: the anti-LAG3 antibody, relatlimab, and the hapten modified vaccine, MVax. Many (52%) trials of exploratory mechanisms are ongoing including the use of adoptive cell transfer immunotherapies, dendritic cell vaccine therapy, and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, among others.

CONCLUSIONS: Since most clinical trials focus on previously approved drug mechanisms, it is likely that paradigm-changing treatments will involve these therapies being used in new treatment contexts or combinations. Only 2 exploratory drug mechanisms studied since 2010 have achieved promising results in the phase 3 setting, though many other trials are ongoing at this time.

Volume

14

Issue

21

ISSN

2072-6694

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

36358601

Department(s)

Department of Surgery, Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute

Document Type

Article

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