Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2014 Feb 19:7:203-9.
doi: 10.2147/OTT.S57335. eCollection 2014.

Ipilimumab in the treatment of metastatic melanoma: management of adverse events

Giuseppina Della Vittoria Scarpati  1 , Celeste Fusciello  2 , Francesco Perri  3 , Francesco Sabbatino  4 , Soldano Ferrone  4 , Chiara Carlomagno  2 , Stefano Pepe  1
Affiliations
Review

Ipilimumab in the treatment of metastatic melanoma: management of adverse events

Giuseppina Della Vittoria Scarpati et al. Onco Targets Ther. .

Abstract

Recently, "ipilimumab," an anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) monoclonal antibody, has been demonstrated to improve overall survival in metastatic melanoma. "CTLA-4" is an immune-checkpoint molecule that downregulates pathways of T-cell activation. Ipilimumab, by targeting CTLA-4, is able to remove the CTLA-4 inhibitory signal, allowing the immune system to react to cancer cells. Due to its immune-based mechanism of action, ipilimumab causes the inhibition of CTLA-4-mediated immunomodulatory effects, the enhancement of antitumor specific immune response mediated by the weakening of self-tolerance mechanisms while exacerbating the development of autoimmune diseases and immune-related adverse events, including dermatitis, hepatitis, enterocolitis, hypophysitis, and uveitis.

Keywords: CTLA-4; T-cells; adverse events; autoimmunity; melanoma.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Patel SP, Woodman SE. Profile of ipilimumab and its role in the treatment of metastatic melanoma. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2011;5:489–495. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bristol-Myers Squibb MDX-010 Antibody, MDX-1379 Melanoma Vaccine, or MDX-010/MDX-1379 Combination Treatment for Patients With Unresectable or Metastatic Melanoma. [Accessed January 22, 2014]. Available from: http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00094653. NLM identifier: NCT00094653.
    1. Bristol-Myers Squibb Dacarbazine and Ipilimumab vs. Dacarbazine With Placebo in Untreated Unresectable Stage III or IV Melanoma. [Accessed January 22, 2014]. Available from: http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00324155. NLM identifier: NCT00324155.
    1. Hodi FS, O’Day SJ, McDermott DF, et al. Improved survival with ipilimumab in patients with metastatic melanoma. N Engl J Med. 2010;363:711–723. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Di Giacomo AM, Danielli R, Calabrò L, et al. Ipilimumab experience in heavily pretreated patients with melanoma in an expanded access program at the University Hospital of Siena (Italy) Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2011;60(4):467–477. - PMC - PubMed