Recently, at the 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, researchers from the University of Sydney, Australia will announce the results of its RELATIVITY-047 trial. In this clinical trial, researchers discovered a new type of immune checkpoint Inhibitor that may effectively help save the lives of patients with malignant melanoma, and this breakthrough study may be extended to other cancer types.
Relatlimab is the first immunotherapy that can target LAG-3, which is a special protein in immune cells that can rejuvenate and enhance the body's anti-tumor ability. Immune checkpoint inhibitors that target CTLA-4 and PD-1 proteins have revolutionized the treatment of malignant melanoma in the past 7 years. These therapies are most effective when used in combination, but they also increase the toxicity of their therapy; about 50% of patients either do not respond to these therapies or will develop tolerance, so the development of new therapies is particularly important.
Researcher Georgina Long AO said that the successful trial of relatlimab therapy targeting LAG-3 protein makes it a key new weapon to save all melanoma patients; this drug can provide researchers with a third immune checkpoint Inhibitors are thus added to the treatment mixture, which may be the difference between the survival of melanoma patients around the world. Immunotherapy can resist cancer cells by using the host's own immune system, and having a third immune checkpoint inhibitor means that research on human cigarettes can make great progress in saving 50% of patients with malignant melanoma who do not respond to current therapies.
Researchers and patients in Australia are critical to testing this new therapy, which has great potential, and it may be extended to other cancer research; the results of the RELATIVITY-047 trial show that it has not been tested before. In patients with malignant melanoma treated, combining relatlimab with nivolumab (an immune checkpoint inhibitor that targets PD-1 protein) can reduce the patient’s disease compared to nivolumab alone. The progression-free survival of patients doubled (10.1 months vs 4.6 months).
One year later, almost 50% of patients receiving combination therapy had no disease progression, while nearly two-thirds of patients receiving monotherapy had disease progression; importantly, this combination therapy has much less toxic effects on patients. Researcher Long said that immunotherapy has changed the treatment of human melanoma and other cancers, with anti-PD-1 therapies taking the lead. This new immune checkpoint inhibitor that can target LAG-3, and it is proven effectiveness when used in combination, may further improve the treatment effect of melanoma patients and may affect the treatment of cancer patients worldwide Or the development of new therapies.