Latest Cancer TreatmentsDr. Mohammadreza Dabiri
Dr. Mohammadreza Dabiriفارسی
Treatment regimen

Nivolumab with ipilimumab in melanoma

The CheckMate 067 regimen: 4 cycles of the combination, then nivolumab alone

Updated: 28 October 20261 min read2 references

Summary for doctors

  • Advanced melanoma, first line; especially with asymptomatic brain metastases [1].
  • Grade 3 to 4 immune-related toxicity in more than half of patients [1].

Dose and schedule

Nivo/Ipi

Advanced melanoma

Advanced melanoma

DrugDoseRouteSchedule
Phase 1: 4 cycles
Nivolumab1 mg/kgIVDay 1
Ipilimumab3 mg/kgIVDay 1
Phase 2
Nivolumab3 mg/kg every 2 weeks (or 240 mg every 2 weeks or 480 mg every 4 weeks)IVDay 1
Cycle length
Combination every 21 days; maintenance nivolumab every 2 or 4 weeks
Duration
Until progression or toxicity (usually up to 2 years)

As in CheckMate 067 [1].

Dose source: [2].

Doses follow the trial protocol, guideline or official drug label (source given in the notes of each regimen). Before prescribing, check blood counts, renal and hepatic function, drug interactions and the patient’s condition, and adjust the dose according to the drug label.

Premedication and supportive care

  • Teach the patient and family about diarrhoea, rash, cough, jaundice, headache and severe tiredness; give a 24-hour contact number.

Monitoring and dose adjustment

  • TSH, glucose, liver enzymes and creatinine at baseline and before each cycle; immune-related toxicity as in the immunotherapy toxicity lesson; morning cortisol and TSH before each cycle during the combination phase.
  • Grade 2 or higher colitis: hold and give steroids; if refractory, infliximab.

Main evidence

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CheckMate 067: grade 3 to 4 treatment-related adverse events in 55% of the combination group, 16.3% with nivolumab and 27.3% with ipilimumab [1]; with long follow-up, the combination had the longest overall survival.

Related cancer types

Melanoma (skin cancer)

Treatment regimens (physicians)

Adjuvant pembrolizumab in melanoma

Physician tools and lessons

Management of brain metastases

References

2 references
Show all referencesClose the reference list

Numbers in the text, such as [1], refer to these sources. Sources with a “Study card” button are summarised in the site’s evidence library.

  1. 1
    Combined Nivolumab and Ipilimumab or Monotherapy in Untreated MelanomaLarkin J, Chiarion-Sileni V, Gonzalez R, et al · N Engl J Med · 2015;373:23-34
    DOIPubMed Back to text: 1 2 3 4
  2. 2
    OPDIVO (NIVOLUMAB) — Prescribing InformationE.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C · FDA label · 2026
    Source Back to text

This page is based on reputable scientific sources and was last updated on 28 October 2026. The content of this website is for educational and informational purposes only and does not replace consultation, diagnosis or treatment by a specialist physician. Consult your treating physician about any treatment decision.

Printed from the website; the full and up-to-date version: https://drdabiri.com/en/regimens/nivolumab-ipilimumab-melanoma/

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