Plasma protein dynamics during ipilimumab treatment in metastatic melanoma: associations with tumor response, adverse events and survival

< 0.05). A multivariate model containing CRP, LDH, ECOG, IL-2RA and PDGF-bb identified a subgroup of patients with poor OS. Patients who experienced severe immune-related adverse events within three months of treatment initiation had higher baseline concentrations of several cytokines, indicating a potential association between preexisting inflammation and adverse events. These findings indicate that the first dose of ipilimumab induces a systemic response with increased levels of circulating cytokines and suggest candidate biomarkers for clinical response, immune-mediated toxicity and survival. Further studies in independent patient cohorts are required to confirm the findings.