A National Phase IV Study With Ipilimumab for Patients With Advanced Malignant Melanoma.

In Norway ipilimumab (Yervoy®) has been available for treating patients with advanced, locally advanced or metastatic melanoma, but was not approved for reimbursement until recently. The Department of Health and Social Services decided that in Norway a national Phase IV interventional study examining survival and Quality of Life should be performed. In addition a research project should be launched aiming at isolating biological markers to identify patients who would benefit the most from ipilimumab therapy.

Because ipilimumab is a new therapeutic agent with a novel mechanism of action, it is important to understand the scope of its impact once being widely available as a treatment option, i.e. real-world experience. Treatment guidelines and clinical research provide information on how unresectable or metastatic melanoma is to be treated with ipilimumab and how Adverse Events should be managed, but may not reflect what actually occurs in clinical practice compared to controlled trials.

The results of the study will provide a more extensive understanding of the safety profile of ipilimumab in oncology practices in Norway in patients who may differ substantially from those included in the clinical trial program. In addition, the study results will provide information on how treatment patterns, patient-reported outcomes, clinical outcomes such as survival and disease progression may be influenced by ipilimumab. The proposed study objectives are: assessment of the safety of ipilimumab and analysis of health outcomes, in routine clinical practice, to ensure appropriate patient and provider utilization of ipilimumab.

Inclusion criteria

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of malignant melanoma
• Unresectable Stage III or Stage IV melanoma
• Prior adjuvant melanoma therapy is permitted; any number of previous treatments for melanoma are permitted.
• ECOG performance status of 0 or 1
• Men and women ≥ 18 years of age
• Adequate hematologic, renal and hepatic function, specifically:

• WBC ≥ 2500/uL
• Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1000/uL
• Platelets ≥ 75 x 103/uL
• Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL
• Creatinine ≤ 2.5 x ULN
• AST/ALT ≤ 3 x ULN for subjects without liver metastasis; ≤ 5 x ULN for subjects with liver metastasis
• Total bilirubin ≤ 3 x ULN, (except subjects with Gilbert's Syndrome, who must have a total bilirubin less than 3.0 mg/dL)
• Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) and men must be using an acceptable method to prevent pregnancy.
• Signed informed consent and expected cooperation of the patients for the treatment and follow up must be obtained and documented according to ICH GCP, and national/local regulations.

Exclusion criteria

• History of or current active autoimmune diseases, including but not limited to inflammatory bowel diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune thyroiditis, autoimmune hepatitis, systemic sclerosis (scleroderma and variants), systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune vasculitis, autoimmune neuropathies (eg, Guillain-Barre syndrome). Patients with vitiligo is NOT excluded.
• MRI detected active brain metastasis wich require other therapies such as surgery and/or radio therapy. Patients already treated for their brain metastasis, surgery or radio therapy, and have had stable disease for more than two months and NOT requiring steroids may, however, be included in this trial.
• Uncontrolled infectious diseases - requires negative tests for clinically suspected HIV, HBV and HCV. If positive results are not indicative of true active or chronic infection, the subject may enter the study after discussion and agreement between the Investigator and the Medical Monitor.
• History of or current immunodeficiency disease, splenectomy or splenic irradiation.
• Prior allogeneic stem cell transplantation
• Pregnancy
• Women who are breastfeeding
• Any underlying medical or psychiatric condition, which in the opinion of the Investigator, will make the administration of study drug hazardous or obscure the interpretation of AEs, such as a condition associated with frequent diarrhea.
• History of allergic reaction to parenteral administered recombinant protein product
• Any reason why, in the opinion of the Investigator, the patient should not participate.