Dr. Topalian on Biomarkers for Anti- PD-1 Therapies in Melanoma
In Partnership With:
Suzanne Topalian, MD, professor of surgery and oncology, John Hopkins Medicine, and director of the melanoma program, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, compares biomarker detection for anti- PD-1 therapies like nivolumab to anti-CTLA-4 therapies like ipilimumab for the treatment of melanoma.
Suzanne Topalian, MD, professor of surgery and oncology, John Hopkins Medicine, and director of the melanoma program, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, compares biomarker detection for anti- PD-1 therapies like nivolumab to anti-CTLA-4 therapies like ipilimumab for the treatment of melanoma.
PD-1 and PD-L1 blocking drugs are more active at the tumor site, says Topalian. To determine markers for PD-1 drugs , investigators must look at the tumor itself and correlate them with clinical outcomes. Anti-CTLA-4 therapies have a global impact on the immune response, so markers such as PD-L1 may not be relevant.
