Abstract
Current immunotherapy is focused on two important checkpoints CTLA-4 and PD-1. Blocking of these inhibitory molecules enables to restore latent anti-tumor immunity on different levels.
Ipilimumab anti CTLA-4 antibody acts at the priming phase, whereas anti PD-1 antibodies act in the tumor microenviroment. Both types of antibodies produce long term responses in patients with metastatic melanoma, prolong PFS and OS and have manageable toxicity.
Very promising appears the combination of anti CTLA-4 and anti PD-1, which significantly increases the response rate. Data evaluating overal survival are awaiting.
Despite these all new discoveries there is still a long way until the era, when metastatic melanoma will be completely curable disease.