In the case of melanoma, multiple brain metastases are common. More than 60 percent of people with Stage IV (advanced) melanoma develop brain metastases, which often develop several years after a melanoma diagnosis and, at first, may not present any symptoms. This can make the condition hard to diagnose in many cases.

In recent years as treatments for primary cancer have improved, patients are often living longer, which has resulted in a higher incidence of secondary brain cancer. While radiation therapy and surgery are treatment options, brain metastases can often recur after radiation or surgery. Additionally, some patients may not be candidates for these approaches as their cancers may be too widespread. The life expectancy for patients with brain metastases is typically shorter than for patients with metastases in other sites, meaning new treatment options are needed for metastatic brain cancer. As such, the advocacy and research communities are eager to understand the potential impact of new approaches, and how I-O therapies may help.

To learn more about melanoma metastatic to the brain, visit the American Brain Tumor Association. You can also follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BMSNews for updates on our work in I-O.