[Immunotherapy for patients with malignant melanoma and brain metastases]

Abstract

Melanoma has a high propensity to form brain metastases, and in this review, we discuss the treatment options for brain metastases. These have previously been sparse, but with the introduction of targeted therapy and checkpoint inhibitors, studies including patients with brain metastases have been published. Recent studies investigating combination of either dabrafenib and trametinib or ipilimumab and nivolumab have proved promising. Based on phase II studies, the most effective treatment for patients with asymptomatic brain metastases seems to be ipilimumab and nivolumab. Symptomatic brain metastases are presently being further investigated.