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.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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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
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Locations
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Clinique Dermatologique/Radiologie Interventionnelle/Urologie/Gynécologie-CHU de Strasbourg/ICANS
Strasbourg, 67091, France