Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionised care for patients with advanced melanoma and other cancers. These days around half of patients with unresectable metastatic melanoma can expect to live to five years after a regime of agents such as nivolumab and pembrolizumab. That’s up to ten times the survival rate of patients a decade ago, when the chaemotherapy Dacarbazine was the front-line treatment. 

Over half of these patients who respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors will go on to survive long-term but it’s still not possible to identify responders in advance. On top of this, some of the immune-related side-effects of therapy can be serious enough to require stopping therapy. Oncologist Matt Carlino explains how to approach the challenging conversations with patients about hopes around expectations for prognosis and quality of life.

 The risk-benefit equation becomes harder to balance when considering treatment for grade III or even grade II melanomas, as an adjuvant to surgery. Associate Professor Carlino also discusses the process of getting these new indications listed on the PBS, or how treatment can be funded when they are not. 

Guest
Associate Professor Matteo Carlino FRACP (Westmead Hospital; Blacktown Hospital; Melanoma Institute Australia; University of Sydney)

Production
Written and produced by Mic Cavazzini DPhil. Music courtesy of FreeMusicArchive includes ‘Headway’ and ‘Denouement’ by Kai Engel, ‘Tavern’ by Sergey Cheremisinov, ‘New Times’ by 4T Thieves. Music licenced from Epidemic Sound includes ‘Dusty Decks’ by Soul Single Serenade. Image licensed from Getty Images.

Please visit the RACP website for a transcript and supporting references. Fellows of the College can claim CPD credits for listening to the podcast and reading supporting resources.