Dr. Luke Discusses Combination Approaches on Horizon in Melanoma

Jason J. Luke, MD, assistant professor of Medicine, University of Chicago Medicine, discusses combination approaches that are on the horizon for the treatment of patients with melanoma.

Oncologists are starting to think about the development of combination therapies for patients with melanoma who have inflamed tumor microenvironments. Possible combinations to further augment these T cells, Luke explains, include oncolytic viruses, IDO inhibitors, and additional immune checkpoints.

However, this contrasts for patients without inflamed tumor microenvironments, because T cells need to be inserted into the tumors for PD-1/PD-L1 agents to be effective. Combination approaches for this subgroup include radiation and/or vaccines, Luke says. These two subgroups are helping oncologists think differently about drug development to maximize benefit for patients based on their immunological status, not only their molecular status.