Real-world impact of education: treating patients with ipilimumab in a community practice setting

After decades without promising new treatments for advanced and metastatic melanoma, ipilimumab was the first systemic therapy approved for use in this patient population. A fully human monoclonal antibody that blocks cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) to augment antitumor T-cell responses, ipilimumab significantly extended overall survival in clinical trials. Because ipilimumab is associated with a set of immune-related adverse events that likely reflect the agent's mechanism of action, a management guide has been established. Nurses play a significant role in initially identifying these adverse reactions and assisting in patient education, treatment, and follow-up. Herein, we discuss commonly asked questions related to ipilimumab therapy and treatment of adverse events, and how nurses can be prepared to answer these questions as they arise from patients and caregivers.