Overview
- The Karolinska Institutet analysis of nearly 400 inoperable melanoma cases found a 49% response rate with the lower ipilimumab dose versus 37% with the established regimen.
- Median progression-free survival reached nine months on the lower-dose protocol compared with three months on the standard approach.
- Overall survival was 42 months with dose reduction compared with 14 months at the traditional dose in the reported cohort.
- Severe adverse events occurred in 31% of patients given the lower dose, down from 51% with the higher dose, according to the study.
- Outcomes remained superior after adjustment for factors such as age and tumor stage, though the retrospective design precludes causal proof and broader adoption may hinge on randomized trials and regulatory or reimbursement decisions.