Study Shows Immunotherapy Improves Melanoma Survival

A landmark trial has revealed that over half of patients with advanced melanoma can survive for at least 10 years following treatment with a combination of two immune checkpoint inhibitors, ipilimumab and nivolumab. This significant improvement in survival rates contrasts sharply with the grim prognosis of just 5% survival at five years fifteen years ago. The CheckMate 067 trial, which involved 945 patients across 21 countries, demonstrated a median survival of over six years, with some patients living long enough to die from other causes rather than melanoma. Experts herald this as a 'practice-changing' development in cancer treatment, as it illustrates the transformative power of immunotherapy in combating a once nearly universally fatal disease. The results were presented at a major medical conference in Barcelona and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, marking a pivotal moment in oncology. Rising melanoma cases in the UK reflect the need for continued awareness and prevention, particularly due to UV exposure.