Immunotherapy and transarterial embolization in patients with metastatic melanoma: a retrospective cohort study

<b>Aim:</b> To investigate how the sequence of checkpoint immunotherapy (CPI) and transarterial embolization (TAE) affects overall survival (OS) of patients with metastatic melanoma.<b>Materials & methods:</b> This retrospective cohort study included 65 patients with metastatic melanoma who underwent both TAE and CPI between September 2011 and January 2022.<b>Results:</b> Significantly higher OS was seen in patients who received CPI before and after embolization (22 months, 95% CI 14-NR, <i>p</i> < 0.001) compared with only before embolization (4.5 months 95% CI, 14-NR). ≤3 hepatic metastasis (<i>p</i> < 0.01), more TAE procedures (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and CPI sequence (before and after embolization) (<i>p</i> < 0.001) were independent predictors of survival.<b>Conclusion:</b> Metastatic melanoma patients who underwent TAE have longer survival when CPI was sequenced both before and after embolization.