Currently, there is an ongoing trial investigating the immunogenicity and analysing biomarkers in people receiving neoadjuvant ipilimumab treatment for melanoma. There is also a trial analysing tissue and blood biomarkers from people with stage 3 or stage 4 melanoma treated with ipilimumab with or without granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor.
The Committee noted the fact that no biomarkers have yet been identified in people with melanoma in whom ipilimumab had a long-term benefit. The Committee considered that further research should be conducted to identify biomarkers or patient characteristics in people who receive long-term benefit from ipilimumab. These biomarkers or patient characteristics could lead to a better targeted treatment pathway that would improve outcomes for people with melanoma. Furthermore, the Committee considered that, with the subsequent advent of melanoma treatments for specific mutations, further research should be conducted to assess the impact of ipilimumab on subgroups based on mutation type.