Prospects for the use of ipilimumab in treating advanced prostate cancer

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Ipilimumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that blocks Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) to potentiate antitumor T cell response. Ipilimumab is approved for the treatment of advanced melanoma based on improved overall survival. Clinical trials of ipilimumab in patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) have demonstrated some clinical activity, but have largely been disappointing to date.

Areas covered: Results of key clinical studies of ipilimumab in the treatment of prostate cancer, including clinical efficacy and toxicities, are summarized.

Expert opinion: There is likely a clinical benefit to ipilimumab in a subset of mCRPC patients. The development of biomarkers for enrichment treatment strategies that select for patients most likely to benefit from ipilimumab is a top priority. Similarly, an understanding of the factors predictive of toxicity will be important in the development of future treatment approaches.

KEYWORDS:

• Cancer immunotherapy
• immune checkpoint
• prostate cancer
• ipilimumab
• Yervoy

Declaration of Interest

L Fong receives research support from Bristol-Myers Squibb. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.