Nivolumab showed a longer recurrence-free and distant metastasis-free survival compared to ipilimumab at 9 years in patients with resected stage III or IV melanoma. The overall survival was similar between the groups. There were no new late adverse events reported.
Study
|
Randomized, double-blind, phase 3 trial [CheckMate 238, NCT02388906] |
| Resected stage IIIB-C or IV melanoma |
| Nivolumab (n=453) vs Ipilimumab (n=453)
|
Efficacy
|
9-yr RFS: 44% vs 37% (HR 0.76 [0.63-0.90]). |
| 9-yr distant metastasis-free survival: 54% vs 48% (HR 0.81 [0.65-1.00]). |
| 9-yr OS: 69% vs 65% (HR 0.88 [0.69-1.11]).
|
Safety
|
No new late adverse events reported. |
| Rates of death from melanoma at 9 years: 26% vs 30%.
|
N Engl J Med. Published online October 18, 2025
http://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2504966
Reviewed by Ulas D. Bayraktar, MD on Nov 14, 2025
