NEOADJUVANT PEMBROLIZUMAB achieved a 71% pathological full response fee in sufferers with resectable desmoplastic melanoma, assembly the prespecified main endpoint within the section 2 SWOG S1512 trial.
Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab in Resectable Desmoplastic Melanoma
The section 2 SWOG S1512 trial was designed to judge response to pembrolizumab, an anti-programmed cell demise protein 1 remedy, in people with desmoplastic melanoma. Findings from cohort A targeted on the pathological full response following neoadjuvant pembrolizumab in sufferers with surgically resectable illness.
Twenty-eight eligible sufferers with resectable desmoplastic melanoma acquired intravenous pembrolizumab at a dose of 200 mg each 3 weeks for 3 cycles previous to surgical excision. Tissue samples have been reviewed at baseline, at 3–5 weeks after therapy initiation, and once more on the time of surgical procedure. Secondary endpoints included scientific response fee, general survival, and therapy associated toxicities.
Pathological Full Response And Medical Outcomes
The first endpoint was the pathological full response fee by native pathological overview. Information have been as follows: 71%; 95% CI: 51–87; P<0.001. This met the prespecified endpoint, indicating a considerable tumour response to neoadjuvant pembrolizumab on this inhabitants.
Along with pathological full response, investigators assessed scientific response fee and general survival. Comply with up prolonged to a few years, enabling preliminary analysis of longer-term outcomes on this cohort of sufferers with resectable desmoplastic melanoma.
Survival And Security Findings
At three years of observe up, 4 individuals had died. Not one of the deaths have been recognized to be attributable to melanoma or to therapy associated antagonistic occasions. These findings present essential context relating to long term outcomes following neoadjuvant pembrolizumab on this setting.
Remedy was typically nicely tolerated. Two sufferers skilled grade 3 therapy associated antagonistic occasions, representing 7% of the research inhabitants. No extra high-grade toxicities have been reported within the summary.
Total, neoadjuvant pembrolizumab in sufferers with resectable desmoplastic melanoma resulted in a excessive pathological full response fee alongside a suitable security profile. The information have been supportive of additional analysis of neoadjuvant programmed cell demise protein 1 blockade on this distinct melanoma subtype.
Reference
Kendra KL et al. Neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade in surgically resectable desmoplastic melanoma: cohort A of the section 2 SWOG S1512 trial. Nat Most cancers. 2026;https://doi.org/10.1038/s43018-025-01113-y.










