Melanoma Stage IIIPhase 2NCT04562129
IL2 With Ipilimumab Followed by Nivolumab in Stage 3 or 4 Melanoma Patients
A Phase 2 study testing Interleukin-2, Ipilimumab and Nivolumab in people with Melanoma Stage III and Melanoma Stage IV, run by H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to find out if the administration of Interleukin-2 concurrently with ipilimumab followed by Nivolumab will result in improved anti-cancer activity and if it is effective for advanced melanoma. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Melanoma Stage III, Melanoma Stage IV, Inoperable Disease
- What is being tested?
- Interleukin-2, Ipilimumab and Nivolumab
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 18 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 24 Sep 2020to Nov 2029
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Histologically or cytologically confirmed metastatic melanoma. This includes American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage IV or advanced/inoperable stage III. This also includes patients with a history of lower stage melanoma and subsequent recurrent metastatic disease that is either locally/regionally advanced/inoperable disease or distant metastases
- Measurable disease, according to RECIST version 1.1
- Must be free of active brain metastasis by contrast-enhanced CT/MRI scans within 4 weeks prior to enrollment. If known to have prior brain metastases, these must have been adequately managed with standard of care radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery or surgery prior to registration on the study.
- Must have previously received anti-PD1 immunotherapy (nivolumab or pembrolizumab) and later experienced disease progression.
- Must not have received systemic therapy or radiotherapy (including SRS) within the preceding 3 weeks. Patients must have recovered from adverse events from previous therapy by the time registration.
- Must be at least 4 weeks from major surgery and have fully recovered from any effects of surgery, and must be free of significant detectable infection prior to registration.
Show all 19Show fewer
- Patients who have received prior anti-CTLA4 monoclonal antibody therapy (ipilimumab or tremelimumab) are eligible.
- Patients who have previously experienced prior high-grade (grade 3 or 4 by CTCAE criteria) immune related adverse events with immune checkpoint inhibitors must be discussed with the study PI and cleared prior to enrollment on this study in order to ensure patient safety.
- Patients with BRAF V600 mutant melanoma must have previously received BRAF targeted therapy for metastatic melanoma and later experienced disease progression. Patients who refuse or decline to receive BRAF targeted therapy or were intolerant of BRAF targeted therapy are eligible.
- Life expectancy of greater than 3 months in the opinion of the investigator
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 or 1
- Must have normal organ and marrow function as specified per protocol.
- Patients on full-dose anticoagulants with Prothrombin Time Test International Normalized Ratio (PT INR) >1.5 are eligible provided that both of the following criteria are met: (a) The patient has an in-range INR (usually between 2 and 3) on a stable dose of oral anticoagulant or on a stable dose of low molecular weight heparin. (b) The patient has no active bleeding or pathological condition that carries a high risk of bleeding (e.g., tumor involving major vessels or known varices).
- Pulmonary: Forced Expiratory Volume at 1 second (FEV1) > 2.0 liters or > 75% of predicted for height and age. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are required for patients over 50 years old or with significant pulmonary or smoking history
- No evidence of congestive heart failure, symptoms of coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction less than 6 months prior to entry, serious cardiac arrhythmias, or unstable angina.
- Patients who are over 40 years old or have had previous myocardial infarction greater than 6 months prior to study entry or have significant cardiac family history (CAD or serious arrhythmias) will be required to have a negative or low probability cardiac stress test (for example, thallium stress test, stress multigated acquisition scan (MUGA), stress echo or exercise stress test) for cardiac ischemia within 8 weeks prior to registration.
- No history of cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attacks within the past 6 months from registration.
- Women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation, and for at least 6 months after completion of study therapy. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately.
- Women should not be lactating and, if of childbearing age, should have a negative pregnancy test (b-HCG test; serum or urine, minimum sensitivity 25 IU/L or equivalent units of b-HCG) within two weeks of registration in the study.
Who cannot join
- Patients who have had systemic therapy for melanoma or radiotherapy within 3 weeks prior to registering on the study or those who have not recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 3 weeks earlier. Patients with a history of endocrinopathies (e.g. hypothyroidism) are eligible if they are stable on hormone replacement therapy. Patients with a history of adrenal insufficiency are not eligible.
- Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents.
- Patients with active brain metastasis are excluded
- Patients with clinically significant cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease
- Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
- Patients who have other current malignancies are not eligible. Patients with other malignancies are eligible if they have been continuously disease free for > 2 years prior to the time of registration. Patients with prior history at any time of any in situ cancer, lobular carcinoma of the breast in situ, cervical cancer in situ, atypical melanocytic hyperplasia or melanoma in situ are eligible. Patients with prior history of basal or squamous skin cancer are eligible. Patients who have had multiple primary melanomas are eligible.
- Patients must not have autoimmune disorders or conditions of immunosuppression that require current ongoing treatment with systemic corticosteroids (or other systemic immunosuppressants), including oral steroids (i.e., prednisone, dexamethasone) or continuous use of topical steroid creams or ointments or ophthalmologic steroids or steroid inhalers. If a patient had been taking steroids, at least 2 weeks must have passed since the last dose.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: A Phase II Study of High Dose Bolus IL2 in Combination With Low Dose Ipilimumab Followed Sequentially by Nivolumab in Patients With Inoperable Stage III or Stage IV Melanoma Who Have Failed Prior Anti-PD1 Immunotherapy
The purpose of this study is to find out if the administration of Interleukin-2 concurrently with ipilimumab followed by Nivolumab will result in improved anti-cancer activity and if it is effective for advanced melanoma.
Read the detailed description
This is a Phase II study of high dose bolus interleukin-2 (HD IL2) in combination with low dose ipilimumab followed sequentially by nivolumab in patients with advanced inoperable stage III or stage IV melanoma who have failed prior anti-PD1 immunotherapy.
The planned treatment consists of up to 3 courses (One cycle is 21 days and one course is 4 cycles). HD IL2 will be given during week 1 of the 2 initial cycles or each course. Ipilimumab will be given concurrently at the low dose of 1 mg/kg on Day 1 of the 2 initial cycles of each course for up to 2 doses, total. Nivolumab will be given on Day 1 of the 3rd cycle of each course. No systemic treatment will be administered during the 4th cycle. Response assessment will occur at the end of the 4th cycle. Patients without evidence of disease progression (RECIST v.1.1) or limiting toxicities will be offered additional courses of treatment for up to a maximum of 3 courses, total
- Conditions
- Melanoma Stage III, Melanoma Stage IV, Inoperable Disease
- Being tested
- Interleukin-2, Ipilimumab, Nivolumab
- Keywords
- skin cancer
- Medical subject headings
- Melanoma, Skin Neoplasms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Interleukin-2Drug
Also called Aldesleukin
High dose interleukin-2 (HD IL2) administered week 1 and 4 of each course (approximately 12 weeks)
IpilimumabDrug
Low dose Ipilimumab given at time of HD IL2 administration on day 1 of the first 2 cycles of each course.
NivolumabDrug
Nivolumab will be given at a dose of 480 mg IV week 7 of each course.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment | Experimental | HD IL2 (600,000 units/kg/dose IV) will be given during week 1 of the 2 initial cycles or each course. Ipilimumab will be given concurrently at the low dose of 1 mg/kg during week one of the 2 initial cycles of each course for up to 2 doses, total. Nivolumab will be given on during week one of the 3rd cycle of each course. No systemic treatment will be administered during the 4th cycle. Patients without evidence of disease progression (RECIST v.1.1) or limiting toxicities will be offered additional courses of treatment for up to a maximum of 3 courses, total. Receives: Drug: Interleukin-2; Drug: Ipilimumab; Drug: Nivolumab |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Response Rate
Response rate (Complete Response + Partial Response) of HD IL2 plus low dose ipilimumab followed sequentially by nivolumab in patients with inoperable stage III or stage IV melanoma who have either failed prior treatment with anti-PD1 immunotherapy (nivolumab or pembrolizumab) or have demonstrated tumor progression following such therapy.
Measured: Up to 9 months
Secondary outcomes (2)
Progression Free Survival
Progression Free Survival (PFS) is defined as the duration of time from start of treatment to time of progression (or death if there is no progression date). Patients with neither a progression date nor date of death will be censored as of last contact.
Measured: Up to 5 years
Overall Survival
Overall Survival (OS) will be measured from the initial date of treatment to the recorded date of death.
Measured: Up to 5 years
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Sep 2020
- Study start24 Sep 2020
- Primary completion21 Jul 2026
- Study completionNov 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Melanoma Stage IIIStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research InstituteThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 18 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Clinigen, Inc.
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Ahmad Tarhini, MD, PhD, Principal investigator, Moffitt Cancer Center
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04562129
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- MCC-20494
- Other IDs
- CIIT19PLK13
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 18 Sep 2020
- Last updated
- 2 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Phase II Study of High Dose Bolus IL2 in Combination With Low Dose Ipilimumab Followed Sequentially by Nivolumab in Patients With Inoperable Stage III or Stage IV Melanoma Who Have Failed Prior Anti-PD1 Immunotherapy
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04562129
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- MCC-20494
- Conditions
- Melanoma Stage III, Melanoma Stage IV, Inoperable Disease
- Keywords
- skin cancer
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 18 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research InstituteUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Clinigen, Inc.
- Study start
- 24 Sep 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 21 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- Nov 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 24 Sep 2020 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to find out if the administration of Interleukin-2 concurrently with ipilimumab followed by Nivolumab will result in improved anti-cancer activity and if it is effective for advanced melanoma.
Detailed description
This is a Phase II study of high dose bolus interleukin-2 (HD IL2) in combination with low dose ipilimumab followed sequentially by nivolumab in patients with advanced inoperable stage III or stage IV melanoma who have failed prior anti-PD1 immunotherapy.
The planned treatment consists of up to 3 courses (One cycle is 21 days and one course is 4 cycles). HD IL2 will be given during week 1 of the 2 initial cycles or each course. Ipilimumab will be given concurrently at the low dose of 1 mg/kg on Day 1 of the 2 initial cycles of each course for up to 2 doses, total. Nivolumab will be given on Day 1 of the 3rd cycle of each course. No systemic treatment will be administered during the 4th cycle. Response assessment will occur at the end of the 4th cycle. Patients without evidence of disease progression (RECIST v.1.1) or limiting toxicities will be offered additional courses of treatment for up to a maximum of 3 courses, total
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment | Experimental | Drug: Interleukin-2, Drug: Ipilimumab, Drug: NivolumabHD IL2 (600,000 units/kg/dose IV) will be given during week 1 of the 2 initial cycles or each course. Ipilimumab will be given concurrently at the low dose of 1 mg/kg during week one of the 2 initial cycles of each course for up to 2 doses, total. Nivolumab will be given on during week one of the 3rd cycle of each course. No systemic treatment will be administered during the 4th cycle. Patients without evidence of disease progression (RECIST v.1.1) or limiting toxicities will be offered additional courses of treatment for up to a maximum of 3 courses, total. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (19 listed)
- Histologically or cytologically confirmed metastatic melanoma. This includes American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage IV or advanced/inoperable stage III. This also includes patients with a history of lower stage melanoma and subsequent recurrent metastatic disease that is either locally/regionally advanced/inoperable disease or distant metastases
- Measurable disease, according to RECIST version 1.1
- Must be free of active brain metastasis by contrast-enhanced CT/MRI scans within 4 weeks prior to enrollment. If known to have prior brain metastases, these must have been adequately managed with standard of care radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery or surgery prior to registration on the study.
- Must have previously received anti-PD1 immunotherapy (nivolumab or pembrolizumab) and later experienced disease progression.
- Must not have received systemic therapy or radiotherapy (including SRS) within the preceding 3 weeks. Patients must have recovered from adverse events from previous therapy by the time registration.
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Patients who have had systemic therapy for melanoma or radiotherapy within 3 weeks prior to registering on the study or those who have not recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 3 weeks earlier. Patients with a history of endocrinopathies (e.g. hypothyroidism) are eligible if they are stable on hormone replacement therapy. Patients with a history of adrenal insufficiency are not eligible.
- Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents.
- Patients with active brain metastasis are excluded
- Patients with clinically significant cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease
- Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Interleukin-2Also: AldesleukinHigh dose interleukin-2 (HD IL2) administered week 1 and 4 of each course (approximately 12 weeks) | Drug | Treatment |
| IpilimumabLow dose Ipilimumab given at time of HD IL2 administration on day 1 of the first 2 cycles of each course. | Drug | Treatment |
| NivolumabNivolumab will be given at a dose of 480 mg IV week 7 of each course. | Drug | Treatment |
Primary outcome
Response Rate
Time frame: Up to 9 months
Response rate (Complete Response + Partial Response) of HD IL2 plus low dose ipilimumab followed sequentially by nivolumab in patients with inoperable stage III or stage IV melanoma who have either failed prior treatment with anti-PD1 immunotherapy (nivolumab or pembrolizumab) or have demonstrated tumor progression following such therapy.
2 secondary outcomes
Progression Free Survival
Time frame: Up to 5 years
Overall Survival
Time frame: Up to 5 years
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Ahmad Tarhini, MD, PhD principal investigator
Moffitt Cancer Center
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing Interleukin-2, Ipilimumab and Nivolumab in people with Melanoma Stage III and Melanoma Stage IV, run by H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 19 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Response Rate (time frame: Up to 9 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Sep 2026.