text_1: Combination approach shows promise for beating advanced melanoma
text_2: This news release describes a phase 1b trial to test whether injecting an immune stimulant directly into metastatic melanoma lesions would change the environment around the tumor in ways that would make an immunotherapy drug, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), more effective. But it’s important the readers are left primarily with the understanding that the results are from the dose-escalation phase–the part of a clinical trial where the researchers look to determine the “best” dose, typically meaning the highest dose that can be used without causing adverse symptoms or side effects. The study was not designed to see whether this approach was better than the approach currently used, or if it helped some people with metastatic melanoma live longer. Yet, the headline states: Combination approach shows promise for beating advanced melanoma. The sub-headline asserts, “the new treatment is more effective in people receiving immunotherapy for the first time.” And the first paragraph asserts that “a treatment that uses a bacteria-like agent in combination with an immunotherapy drug could help some people with advanced melanoma … live longer.” None of that is known yet. It also is notable that the release made no mention of side effects among patients given this combination of therapies–even though that’s what this trial was examining. Immunotherapy has seen some of its greatest success in the treatment of metastatic melanoma. But it doesn’t work in all patients. Scientists hope by learning why it doesn’t always work they can develop new types of immunotherapies, new combinations of immunotherapies or new ways to use immunotherapy drugs that will achieve the desired response: allowing people with metastatic melanoma to live longer. This news release describes a study that included 22 people, nine of whom were receiving an immunotherapy for the first time. Seven of those nine had “a positive response” to the drug combination. In two, the tumors disappeared completely. That’s a good thing. Would the patients have had the same response if they had received Keytruda alone? Maybe. Maybe not. There’s no way to know. The study wasn’t designed to test that. But this release could easily lead to news articles that make that case.