The incidence of cutaneous malignancy is increasing. Although there are many new standard therapies, there are many patients in need of more effective treatment. Two new innovative early phase studies are now open at Providence Cancer Institute to investigate the activity of combination immunotherapy in mucosal melanoma and other high-risk skin cancers.
Atezolizumab Plus NT-I7 for High-Risk Skin Cancers
This open-label Phase I/II study will evaluate the antitumor efficacy and safety of atezolizumab (Tecentriq), a PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor, given with NT-17 (recombinant IL-7), an experimental immunotherapy agent, for the treatment of high-risk skin cancers. These include patients with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 naïve or relapsed/refractory cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) and melanoma.
Ipilimumab and Nivolumab as Adjuvant Treatment of Mucosal Melanoma
In this single-arm Phase II study, patients with mucosal melanoma will receive two FDA-approved checkpoint inhibitors, ipilimumab (Yervoy) and nivolumab (Opdivo), as adjuvant therapy. Known as the SALVO Study, this trial seeks to assess recurrence-free survival, adverse events and overall survival compared to standard of care.
For more information or to refer patients to these studies, please call Providence Cancer Institute’s Clinical Research office at 503-215-2614 or submit a referral form.
More skin cancer studies
Providence Cancer Institute is one of a handful of centers to offer these studies, and the only center on the West Coast. The studies are among 10 trials currently open for patients with skin cancer. See all skin cancer studies.
New research studies are added frequently. Please visit our website to see all studies in all cancer types currently open at Providence Cancer Institute.
Leaders in melanoma research and treatment
Providence Cancer Institute has been an international leader in melanoma research and treatment for more than 25 years. Some highlights of our program and contributions:
- Providence Cancer Institute researchers led the international study leading to FDA approval of ipilimumab (Yervoy), the first immunotherapy to show a survival benefit in advanced melanoma.
- Providence also participated in clinical trials leading to FDA approval of nivolumab (Opdivo) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda), which offer improved response and survival benefits as second- or third-line therapies for patients with metastatic melanoma.
- Providence is one of the top five high-dose Interleukin-2 (IL-2) centers in the country and is an innovator in the use of IL-2 in conjunction with high-dose per fraction radiation.
- Providence is one of the few centers developing adoptive cell transfer including tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) and engineered T cell therapy in combination with IL-2 for patients with melanoma and other solid tumors.
Learn more about Providence Cancer Institute Melanoma Program.
Photo credit: National Cancer Institute
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