Relatlimab, nivolumab, and ipilimumab for melanoma that has spread to the brain
Official title: A Multicenter, Phase II Trial of Relatlimab, Nivolumab, and Ipilimumab in Patients With Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Melanoma Brain Metastases
Run by Stanford University · NCT06712927 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will test whether the combination of relatlimab, nivolumab, and ipilimumab can help adults with melanoma brain metastases, including those with and without symptoms.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Stanford University Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | immunotherapy, radiation, prednisone, relatlimab, nivolumab, ipilimumab |
| Locations | 1 site (Palo Alto, California) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 6, 2025 |
| Main results expected | November 2026 |
| Study ends | February 2030 |
| Registry record updated | May 18, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06712927 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults (≥18) with histologically confirmed non-uveal melanoma and at least one measurable (5–40 mm) untreated brain metastasis who meet the trial's performance-status and prior-therapy rules are the intended candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
People with uveal melanoma, no measurable untreated brain lesions, prior anti-CTLA-4/PD-1/LAG-3 therapy for unresectable stage III/IV disease, or who cannot travel to the site are unlikely to qualify or benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This phase II trial gives a three-drug immune checkpoint combination (relatlimab, nivolumab, and ipilimumab) to adults with non-uveal melanoma that has metastasized to the brain. Participants are enrolled in asymptomatic and symptomatic cohorts and must have at least one measurable untreated intracranial lesion. The study monitors intracranial tumor responses, survival outcomes, and treatment-related side effects while following protocol-specified imaging and clinic visits. Prior adjuvant checkpoint therapy is allowed if completed more than six months earlier, but prior checkpoint therapy for unresectable stage III/IV disease is excluded.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the combination could improve control of brain metastases and potentially extend survival for people with melanoma in the brain.
How similar studies have gone: Nivolumab plus ipilimumab has demonstrated intracranial activity and relatlimab+nivolumab improved outcomes in systemic melanoma, but using all three agents together for brain metastases is relatively novel with limited direct data.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Histologically confirmed non-uveal melanoma that has metastasized to the brain. At least 1 measurable intracranial target lesion (5-40mm) which was not previously treated with local therapy (no prior SRS to this lesion). Prior surgery for a brain metastasis is allowed but this lesion cannot be a target lesion.
a. Growth or change in a lesion previously irradiated will not be considered measurable. Regrowth in cavity of previously excised lesion will not be considered measurable.
2. Age ≥ 18 years
3. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1 for Cohort A (asymptomatic), ECOG performance status 0-2 for Cohort B (symptomatic)
4. No prior anti-CTLA-4, anti-PD-1, or anti-LAG-3 therapy for unresectable stage III/IV melanoma. Prior CTLA-4, PD-1, and/or LAG-3 therapy in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting is acceptable if \>6 months since last treatment. Participants may have had prior BRAF+MEK inhibitors for adjuvant therapy and/or unresectable/metastatic melanoma if \>2 weeks have elapsed since last treatment.
5. Adequate organ function as assessed by the following parameters:
1. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 3 times the upper limit of normal (≤ 3 ×ULN); patients with liver metastasis ≤ 5 × ULN
2. Estimated creatinine clearance (eCrCl) ≥ 30 mL/min using the Cockcroft-Gault formula at Screening
3. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5x ULN OR direct bilirubin ≤ ULN for participants with total bilirubin levels \>1.5x ULN
6. Patients must have recovered from all prior anti-cancer therapy-related adverse events (AEs) to ≤ Grade 1 (per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[CTCAE\] v 5.0), except for alopecia, vitiligo, thyroid dysfunction, hypophysitis, or adrenal insufficiency, prior to enrollment.
7. Cohort A (asymptomatic): participants must be free of neurologic signs and symptoms related to metastatic brain lesions and must not have required or received systemic corticosteroid therapy greater than physiologic replacement (\>10 mg of prednisone/day or equivalent) in the 10 days prior to beginning protocol therapy. Cohort B (symptomatic): participants may be on steroids with doses no higher than a total daily dose of 4 mg of dexamethasone or equivalent that is stable or tapering within 10 days prior to treatment. Patients who are symptomatic and are not being treated with steroids are also eligible.
8. Participants with known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infection are eligible providing they are on effective anti-retroviral therapy and have undetectable viral load at their most recent viral load test and within 90 days prior to treatment.
9. Participants with a known history of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. Participants with HBV or HCV infection who are currently on treatment must have an undetectable HCV viral load prior to treatment.
10. Representative formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor specimens in paraffin blocks (blocks are preferred) OR at least 4 unstained slides, with an associated pathology report, for testing of tumor PD-L1 expression:
1. Tumor tissue should be of good quality based on total and viable tumor content.
2. Patients who do not have tissue specimens may undergo a biopsy during the screening period. Acceptable samples include core-needle biopsies for deep tumor tissue or excisional, incisional, punch, or forceps biopsies for cutaneous, subcutaneous, or mucosal lesions. Fine Needle Aspirations (FNA) will not be considered acceptable for tissue procurement.
3. Tumor tissue from bone metastases is not evaluable for PD-L1 expression and is therefore not acceptable.
4. However, if repeat biopsy is not feasible, and no archival tissue available patient still may be enrolled.
11. Any radiation treatment or excision of non-target brain lesions must have occurred ≥ 1 weeks before the start of dosing for this study. NOTE: The radiation field must not have included the brain index lesion(s).
12. Radiation to non-CNS lesions is allowed and does not require a washout period for treatment initiation. Any radiation-related toxicity must have recovered to ≤ Grade 1 (per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[CTCAE\] v 5.0).
13. Women of child-bearing potential (WOCBP) must not be breastfeeding and must have a negative pregnancy test within 3 days prior to initiation of dosing. WOCBP (or female partners of male participants) must agree to use an acceptable method of birth control from the time of the negative pregnancy test, through the duration of treatment with the study combination and for 12 months after their last dose of any study component medication.
NOTE: A female participant is eligible to participate if she is not a woman of childbearing potential.
Approved methods of birth control are as follows:
Combined (estrogen and progesterone containing) hormonal birth control associated with inhibition of ovulation: oral, intravaginal, transdermal Progesterone-only hormonal birth control associated with inhibition of ovulation: oral, injectable, implantable Intrauterine device (IUD) Intrauterine hormone-releasing system (IUS) Bilateral tubal occlusion Vasectomized partner True sexual abstinence when this is in line with the preferred and usual lifestyle of the patient. Periodic abstinence (eg, calendar ovulation, symptothermal, post-ovulation methods) is not acceptable
14. Patients (or legally authorized representative) must have the ability to understand the requirements of the study, have provided written informed consent as evidenced by signature on an ICF approved by an Institutional Review Board/Independent Ethics Committee (IRB/IEC) and agree to abide by the study restrictions and return to the site for the required assessments.
Exclusion Criteria
1. Another primary malignancy within the previous 3 years (with the exception of carcinoma in situ of the breast, cervix, or bladder; localized prostate cancer; and non-melanoma skin cancer that has been adequately treated).
2. Active medical illness(es) that would pose increased risk for study participation, including: active systemic infections (including COVID-19), coagulation disorders, or other major active medical illnesses of the cardiovascular, respiratory, or immune systems.
3. Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic therapy with corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive agents within the past 3 years (excluding immune-related adverse events from immunotherapy as described above.
4. Implanted device that precludes the use of MRI.
5. Prior Grade 4 treatment-related AE with immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment.
6. History of leptomeningeal metastasis determined by imaging or lumbar puncture.
7. Prior whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT)
8. Women who are breast-feeding or pregnant
9. History of clinically significant cardiac disease or congestive heart failure \> New York Heart Association (NYHA) class 2. Subjects must not have unstable angina (anginal symptoms at rest) or new-onset angina within the last 3 months or myocardial infarction within the past 6 months or a history of myocarditis
10. Troponin T (TnT) or I (TnI) \> 2 × institutional ULN. Participants with TnT or TnI levels between \> 1 to 2 × ULN will be permitted if repeat levels within 24 hours are ≤ 1 ULN. If TnT or TnI levels are between \>1 to 2 × ULN within 24 hours, the participant may undergo a cardiac consultation and be considered for treatment, following cardiologist recommendation. When repeat levels within 24 hours are not available, a repeat test should be conducted as soon as possible. If TnT or TnI repeat levels beyond 24 hours are \< 2 × ULN, the participant may undergo a cardiac consultation and be considered for treatment, following cardiologist recommendation. Notification of the decision to enroll the participant following cardiologist recommendation has to be made to the principal investigator.
11. Investigational drug use within 14 days (or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer) of the first dose of study treatment.
12. Dexamethasone use \> 4mg/day (or equivalent)
Where it's running
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Stanford University
Palo Alto, California, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Allison Betof, MD, PhD — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Divya Pathak
- Email: divya22@stanford.edu
- Phone: (650) 492-3674
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Triplet combination of Relatlimab, Nivolumab, and Ipilimumab in first-line metastatic melanoma
A first-line trial tests whether a three-drug combo can help people with metastatic melanoma, starting at a recommended dose.
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Combining Sarilumab with Other Treatments for Advanced Melanoma
This study is testing a new combination of treatments for people with advanced melanoma to see if it helps them feel better and live longer.
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Using ctDNA to decide whether to add ipilimumab for people on nivolumab and relatlimab
This tests whether using a ctDNA blood test to guide adding ipilimumab for adults with advanced or metastatic melanoma on nivolumab and relatlimab leads to longer progression-free survival.
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Neoadjuvant ipilimumab, relatlimab, and nivolumab combinations for resectable cutaneous and mucosal melanoma
This phase 2 trial will test several immunotherapy combinations given before surgery to try to reduce recurrence in adults with resectable stage 3 cutaneous melanoma or resectable mucosal melanoma, including patients predicted or known to respond poorly to standard anti‑PD‑1 therapy.
-
Oral Alintegimod with Ipilimumab followed by Nivolumab for advanced cancer
This study is testing if a new oral medication called Alintegimod, combined with two other cancer treatments, can help people with advanced solid tumors feel better and live longer.
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This study is testing if a new combination of two experimental drugs can help people with advanced melanoma more than the current approved treatments.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.