Yervoy (BMS) in Brain Metastases study - 31-Mar-2012

Yervoy (ipilimumab) from BMS may help shrink some tumors and may slow progression of secondary tumors in the brain (metastases) in some patients with advanced melanoma. The researchers enrolled 72 patients with brain metastases to participate in the study:Cohort A contained 51 neurologically asymptomatic patients Cohort B contained 21 symptomatic patients receiving corticosteroids for clinical or radiological control of their brain metastases.The participants received 10 mg/kg of ipilimumab every three weeks for 4 doses. Participants who were stable at week 24 also received a maintenance dose every 12 weeks. After three months of treatment, the authors found that 18% (9) of participants in cohort A, who were no dependent on steroids, achieved disease control (partial response or stable disease), while 1 (5%) patient in receiving corticosteroids in cohort B achieved a complete response. The team found that long-term survival rates were comparable to that seen in patients without brain metastases, with almost one-third of those in both cohorts alive at 12 months. 26% of participants in cohort A were alive at 2 years compared with only 10% (2) of participants in cohort B.