Neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade in surgically resectable desmoplastic melanoma: cohort A of the phase 2 SWOG S1512 trial
The phase 2 SWOG S1512 trial ( NCT02775851 ) was designed to evaluate the response to pembrolizumab (anti-PD-1) in individuals with desmoplastic melanoma. Here we report the results of cohort A of the trial, evaluating the pathological complete response (pCR) rate of neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade in surgically resectable desmoplastic melanoma. Secondary endpoints included clinical response rate, overall survival and toxicities. Twenty-eight eligible individuals with resectable desmoplastic melanoma received intravenous pembrolizumab (200 mg) every 3 weeks three times, followed by excision. Tissue samples before treatment, at 3-5 weeks after treatment initiation and at the time of surgery were reviewed. The primary endpoint of pCR rate by local pathological review was 71% (95% confidence interval, 51-87%; P < 0.001), which met the prespecified endpoint. There were two (7%) grade 3 treatment-related adverse events. At three years of follow-up, four participants have died, none known to be from melanoma or adverse events. In conclusion, neoadjuvant pembrolizumab in individuals with resectable desmoplastic melanoma results in a high pCR rate with acceptable safety profile. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02775851 .
Authors
- John Hyngstrom (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4833-3838)
- Ivan Perez Garcilazo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4690-3905)
- Agustin Vega-Crespo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1326-0517)
- K. Norman
- Andrew Scott Brohl (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0071-0534)
- Shay Bellasea
- Joseph Markowitz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2490-5464)
- Kari Kendra (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5936-6689)
- Carlo M. Contreras (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6028-1711)
- Jia Ming Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3992-9143)
- Tawnya L. Bowles (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1883-1510)
- Egmidio Medina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3284-5329)
- J.A. Plaza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8595-5580)
- Kenneth F. Grossmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8523-7407)
- Ignacio Baselga-Carretero (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0229-4690)
- Elad Sharon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2512-3539)
- Cynthia R. Gonzalez
- Siwen Hu-Lieskovan
- Michael C. Wu
- Katie M. Campbell
- Nikhil I. Khushalani
- David A. Wada
- William E. Carson
- Zeynep Eroglu
- Antoni Ribas
- Vernon K. Sondak
- James Moon
- Nataly Naser Al Deen
- Bartosz Chmielowski
- Alexandra Ikeguchi
- Gino K. In
- Sapna P. Patel
Institutions
- University of Southern California (US)
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (US)
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- University of Utah (US)
- Huntsman Cancer Institute (US)
- Providence Portland Medical Center (US)
- The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (US)
- Intermountain Medical Center (US)
- Jefferson Healthcare (US)
- Moffitt Cancer Center (US)
- Fred Hutch Cancer Center (US)
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (US)
- Cancer Research Center (US)
- Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City (US)
- University of Colorado Cancer Center (US)
- National Cancer Institute (US)
- Rush University (US)
- University of Oklahoma (US)
- University of Colorado Denver (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Cancer
- Published
- 2026-01-29
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s43018-025-01113-y
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Cutaneous Melanoma Detection and Management
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 48.39