Freeze and fight: new combo therapy targets melanoma
NCT ID NCT03949153
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested a new approach for stage IIIB/C melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Nineteen participants received a single infusion of the immunotherapy drug nivolumab, followed by cryotherapy (freezing) of a cancerous lymph node, and then an injection of another immunotherapy drug, ipilimumab, directly into the frozen area. The goal was to see if this combination was feasible and could trigger a stronger immune response against the cancer while potentially reducing side effects.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- nivolumab and ipilimumab (immunotherapy drugs)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could offer a new way to treat advanced melanoma by combining tumor destruction with targeted immunotherapy, potentially improving outcomes and reducing side effects.
- What could go wrong
- This was a small, early-phase proof-of-concept study with only 19 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The combination also carries risks of immune-related side effects.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Clinique Dermatologique/Radiologie Interventionnelle/Urologie/Gynécologie-CHU de Strasbourg/ICANS
Strasbourg, 67091, France
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