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Melanoma — SCE Medical Oncology MCQ

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ModerateMelanoma & SkinMelanomaSCE Medical Oncology

A 72-year-old man with metastatic melanoma achieves a durable complete response on nivolumab + ipilimumab after 2 years. He develops grade 3 immune-related colitis requiring hospitalisation and IV steroids. After recovery, the oncologist recommends stopping all immunotherapy. He asks about his prognosis off treatment. What can he be told?

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Correct answer: C — Patients who achieve durable complete responses on ICI often maintain long-term disease control even after treatment discontinuation

Long-term follow-up from CheckMate 067 and other landmark trials shows that patients achieving complete or durable responses on ICI therapy frequently maintain disease control after treatment cessation. The 5-year OS rate for nivolumab + ipilimumab in CheckMate 067 was approximately 52%, with many responders maintaining benefit off therapy. Treatment-free survival is a recognised positive outcome of immunotherapy. Close surveillance is required but relapse after CR is the minority.

Reference: ESMO 2024 Melanoma Guidelines; CheckMate 067 5-year data Larkin et al NEJM 2019