Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Anti-PD1 or Combinations for Locoregionally Advanced Melanoma

Nivolumab is a fully human immunoglobulin (Ig) G4 monoclonal antibody directed against the negative immunoregulatory human cell surface receptor programmed death-1 (PD-1, PCD-1) with immune checkpoint inhibitory and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration, nivolumab binds to and blocks the activation of PD-1, an immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) transmembrane protein, by its ligands programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), which is overexpressed on certain cancer cells, and programmed cell death ligand 2 (PD-L2), which is primarily expressed on antigen-presenting cells (APCs). This results in the activation of T cells and cell-mediated immune responses against tumor cells. Activated PD-1 negatively regulates T-cell activation and plays a key role in tumor evasion from host immunity.

Opdualag (Nivolumab and Relatlimab-rmbw) is a combination formulation composed of nivolumab, a human immunoglobulin (Ig) G4 monoclonal antibody directed against the negative immunoregulatory human cell surface receptor programmed death-1 (PD-1, PCD-1), and relatlimab-rmbw, a human IgG4 monoclonal antibody directed against the inhibitor receptor lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3). Nivolumab binds to and blocks the activation of PD-1 by its ligands programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), which is overexpressed on certain cancer cells, and programmed cell death ligand 2 (PD-L2), which is primarily expressed on antigen-presenting cells (APCs). This prevents PD-1-mediated signaling and PD-1-mediated inhibition of the immune response. Relatlimab binds to LAG-3 on tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and prevents LAG-3 binding to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II. This prevents LAG-3-mediated signaling and LAG-3-mediated inhibition of the immune response.

Ipilimumab is a type of monoclonal antibody and a type of immune checkpoint inhibitor that may block CTLA-4 and help the immune system kill cancer cells. Ipilimumab binds to the protein CTLA-4 to help immune cells kill cancer cells better and is used to treat many different types of cancer. These include cancers that have certain mutations (changes) in genes involved in DNA repair.