Real-world data on anti-PD-1 plus lenvatinib as a treatment option in pretreated advanced melanoma patients - a retrospective DeCOG study

BACKGROUND: Patients with advanced melanoma progressing after immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) and BRAF/MEK inhibition have limited therapeutic options. In the LEAP-004 trial, pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib demonstrated activity in PD-1-refractory melanoma. The combination has emerged as a potential option when approved therapies have been exhausted; however, real-world evidence regarding its efficacy remains limited. METHODS: This retrospective, multicenter DeCOG study included patients with advanced melanoma treated with anti-PD-1 plus lenvatinib after failure of anti-PD-1-based therapy at 11 major skin-cancer centers in Germany and Switzerland between October 2020 and March 2025. RESULTS: Overall, 120 patients were analyzed (median age 59 years); 70 % were male and 38 % had an ECOG performance status > 1. Most patients had ≥ 3 metastatic sites (69 %), brain metastases (42 %), and elevated LDH (58 %). Median follow-up was 13.4 months. Patients received a median of two prior systemic therapy lines; 98 % had been pretreated with ipilimumab/nivolumab, and 66 % exhibited primary resistance to prior ICI. The objective response rate was 23 %, with a median duration of response of 10 months; disease control rate was 47 %. Median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 4 months and median overall survival (mOS) was 10 months, with 12-month PFS and OS rates of 17 % and 42 %, respectively. Durable disease control beyond six months was observed in 23 % of patients, with mPFS of 21 months. Grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 21 % of patients. CONCLUSIONS: In this real-world cohort, anti-PD-1 plus lenvatinib demonstrated meaningful efficacy in a subset of heavily pretreated patients, predominantly in those with BRAF wild-type melanoma.