Claire Friedman, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses considerations to take when planning immunotherapy treatments for older patients. There is also the possibility of combinations to consider.

When choosing an appropriate immunotherapy agent for an older patient, clinicians should discuss the different options, and their risks and benefits, with patients. Clinicians should keep several factors in mind. Not only are a patient’s lifestyle and medical history important, but so is their social support.

Videos

Claire Friedman discusses the factors clinicians should consider when determining an immunotherapy treatment plan for older patients.

Claire Friedman on Considerations for Older Patients Receiving Immunotherapy

Claire Friedman, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the promise of immunotherapy for elderly patients with melanoma.

A study was conducted at MSK that observed patients aged 80 or older who were treated with ipilimumab (Yervoy), pembrolizumab (Keytruda), nivolumab (Opdivo), or a combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab, between 2008 and 2015. The results, Friedman said, were very exciting, particularly for patients on ipilimumab, who had the best long-term survival data, with about 25% still alive today.

The study also revealed a plateau in the overall survival cure for elderly patients with melanoma, who traditionally had a poor prognosis.

Claire Friedman, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the promise of immunotherapy for elderly patients with melanoma.
 

Claire Friedman, MD

Articles

Claire Friedman on Considerations for Older Patients Receiving Immunotherapy

Claire Friedman on Immunotherapy in Elderly Patients With Melanoma