Toripalimab

Despite the remarkable therapeutic advances achieved with immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced melanoma, treatment options remain limited for patients with refractory subtypes. This study evaluated a novel combination of DNV3 (anti‐LAG‐3), toripalimab (anti‐PD‐1), and chemotherapy (nab‐paclitaxel/cisplatin) in 27 Asian patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma (77.8% [21/27] previously treated with anti‐PD‐[L]1 and 22.2% [6/27] treatment‐naïve mucosal melanoma; subtypes: 13 mucosal, 6 acral, 5 cutaneous, and 3 of unknown primary origin). The regimen achieved an overall response rate (ORR) of 44.4%, which was further elevated to 54.5% in the subgroup of 11 patients with hepatic metastases. Notably, it also demonstrated substantial efficacy in anti‐PD‐(L)1‐resistant cases, with a 42.9% ORR and a median progression‐free survival (PFS) of 7.36 months. Among treatment‐naïve mucosal melanoma, the ORR reached 50%. At data cutoff, median overall survival remained unreached in all cohorts. Grade ≥3 treatment‐related adverse events initially occurred in 55.6% of participants; subsequent dose modification of nab‐paclitaxel (from 260 mg/m 2 to 200 mg/m 2 ) improved tolerability, reducing the incidence of grade ≥3 events to 22.2%. Immune‐related toxicities (grade 3–4, 22.2%) were clinically manageable. Therefore, the combination of LAG‐3/PD‐1 blockade and chemotherapy demonstrated promising efficacy, notably in treatment‐naïve mucosal melanoma with liver metastases. (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry number, ChiCTR2400079543)

This news section offers Cancer readers timely information on events, public policy analysis, and topical issues. In this issue, overall survival nearly doubled in patients assigned to disitamab vedotin plus toripalimab in comparison with those assigned to chemotherapy. In addition, nine‐year data show a sustained benefit of nivolumab in patients with high‐risk resected melanoma, and zanzalintinib plus atezolizumab is the first immunotherapy regimen to benefit patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.