Treatment patterns and outcomes for patients with unresectable stage III and metastatic melanoma in the USA

Aim: To describe treatment patterns and outcomes of patients with unresectable stage III and metastatic/stage IV melanoma. Materials & methods: An observational retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with advanced melanoma before 1 November 2015 who initiated a new line of therapy (LOT) from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2016. Results: Among 487 patients, ipilimumab monotherapy (27.5%) was the most common first line of therapy (1LOT) in 2015, surpassed by nivolumab monotherapy (21.5%) in 2016. 12-month survival was ≥80.1%; proportions were highest forpatients treated with nivolumab + ipilimumab (86.6%). All treatments relatively well tolerated in real-world setting and adverse events were consistent with the previously reported safety profiles. Conclusion: This study provides important insights into real-world advanced melanoma treatment patterns and demonstrates encouraging treatment safety and patient survival data.