Tumor size is strongest variable in patient response to promising melanoma drug

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

The size of the tumor has been found to be the strongest variable in determining patients’ response to an experimental immunotherapy, MK-3475, for metastatic melanoma. The disease is generally staged as stage IVa to stage IVc based on where the cancer has spread, with the former having the best prognosis and the latter having the worse prognosis. MK-3475 is a monoclonal antibody that stimulates an immune system response to the tumor; however, larger tumors may overwhelm the effects of the drug regardless of the location of the tumor. The researchers report that this may influence treatment strategy, indicating that reducing the size of larger tumors first could lead to better outcomes for patients. MK-3475 is also being investigated in lung, bladder, and kidney cancer. The drug is on the FDA priority review list.