Pooled outcomes with first-line nivolumab plus relatlimab in advanced melanoma patients

Melanoma experts, including prof Tawbi, conducted a pooled analysis of data from the RELATIVITY-047 and RELATIVITY-020 trials. The analysis focused on a cohort of anti–PD-1/PD-L1–naive patients with acral and mucosal melanoma—two biologically distinct subtypes typically associated with poorer prognosis and limited therapeutic responsiveness.

The pooled results demonstrated that treatment with NIVO + RELA exhibits clinically meaningful antitumour activity in both acral and mucosal melanoma, underscoring its potential value in these difficult-to-treat populations. In addition, the investigators evaluated long-term outcomes and identified three-year RFS as a promising surrogate endpoint for predicting durable OS in patients receiving this regimen. This finding suggests that early achievement of sustained disease control may correlate strongly with favourable long-term prognosis.

It is relevant for clinical practice that reimbursement for NIVO+RELA is currently restricted to PD-L1–negative patients, aligning with the population included in this pooled analysis.