Neoadjuvant Combination Therapy With Ipilimumab and HighDose IFN-α2b for Melanoma

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and potential effectiveness of a new treatment for advanced and recurrent melanoma involving the combination of Ipilimumab and IFN-α2b before surgery and to test for biomarker studies in blood and/or tumor to better understand this disease, how best to treat it and what patients should be treated with this combination.

Neoadjuvant therapy allows new insights into melanoma and its biological and immunologic response to therapeutic interventions, such as ipilimumab. Neoadjuvant ipilimumab therapy for high-risk melanoma patients with bulky regional stage IIIB-C lymphadenopathy may result in improved clinical outcome in this group of patients that are more likely to respond to immunotherapeutic interventions and without increased morbidity. Through the design of neoadjuvant trials in which it is possible to obtain biopsy samples, a greater understanding of the dynamic interaction between tumors and the immune system is possible. This should lead to the identification of new targets for the treatment of melanoma and aid in the development of new combinations that may have greater efficacy and acceptable toxicity, to build on the clinical, immunologic, and molecular effect of this therapy for patients with melanoma.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Men and women, at least 18 years of age
* ECOG performance status 0 or 1
* Histologic diagnosis of melanoma staged:
* Tx or T1-4 and
* N1b, or N2b, or N2c, or N3
* M 0 that may present as any of the following groups:
* Primary melanoma with clinically apparent regional lymph node metastases, biopsy confirmed
* Clinically detected recurrence of melanoma at the proximal regional lymph node(s) basin, biopsy confirmed
* Clinically or histologically detected primary melanoma involving multiple regional nodal groups, biopsy confirmed
* Clinically detected single site of nodal metastatic melanoma arising from an unknown primary, biopsy confirmed
* Patients with intransit or satellite metastases with or without lymph node involvement are allowed if considered surgically resectable at baseline by the treating medical oncologist and surgical oncologist.

NOTE: All patients must be determined to be surgically resectable at baseline to be eligible for this neoadjuvant study.

* Patients must undergo biopsy (punch) or open biopsy (if done as part of a clinically indicated baseline diagnostic procedure) within 14 days of entry into the study. Lymphadenectomy/definitive surgery will be performed after at least 2 and generally not longer than 4 weeks of induction HDI-ipilimumab therapy. Additional delays for definitive lymphadenectomy/surgery are allowed if clinically indicated while awaiting the resolution of potential adverse events from HDI-ipilimumab therapy.
* Patients must have been evaluated by standard-of-care full body imaging studies (CT, PET-CT or MRI) as part of the initial clinical work-up at baseline (no more than 4 weeks prior to study enrollment) and after completion of induction HDI-ipilimumab (at 6-8 weeks after the first dose of ipilimumab/HDI and prior to the definitive lymphadenectomy procedure).
* Required values for initial laboratory tests:
* WBC ≥ 3000/uL
* ANC ≥ 1500/uL
* Platelets ≥ 100 x 103/uL
* Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL
* Creatinine ≤ 1.8 mg/dL
* AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 x ULN
* Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 ULN, (except patients with Gilbert's Syndrome, who must have a total bilirubin less than 3.0 mg/dL)
* No active or chronic infection with HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C

Exclusion Criteria:

* Clinical, radiological/laboratory, or pathological evidence of distant metastatic disease.
* Evidence of soft tissue involvement by gross extranodal extension of tumor manifest by fixation to the fascia, or matting of nodal tissue that would compromise surgical resection as determined by the surgical oncologist.
* History of acute diverticulitis, intra-abdominal abscess, GI obstruction and abdominal carcinomatosis which are known risk factors for bowel perforation.
* Any other malignancy from which the patient has been disease-free for less than 5 years, with the exception of adequately treated and cured basal or squamous cell skin cancer, superficial bladder cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix.
* Autoimmune disease exclusions: a history of inflammatory bowel disease, a history of symptomatic disease (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, systemic progressive sclerosis \[scleroderma\], systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune vasculitis \[e.g., Wegener's Granulomatosis\]); motor neuropathy considered of autoimmune origin (e.g. Guillain-Barre Syndrome).
* Any underlying medical or psychiatric condition, which in the opinion of the Investigator/Sub-Investigator will make the administration of ipilimumab or HDI hazardous or obscure the interpretation of AEs, such as a condition associated with frequent diarrhea.
* Underlying heart conditions if deemed ineligible for surgery by cardiology consult.
* Any non-oncology vaccine therapy used for prevention of infectious diseases (for up to 1 month before or after any dose of ipilimumab).
* Prior treatment with ipilimumab or CD137 agonist or CTLA-4 inhibitor or agonist.
* Prior radiotherapy, chemotherapy, including infusion or perfusion therapy for current disease or any immunotherapy including tumor vaccines, interferon-alfa, interleukins, levamisole or other biologic response modifiers within the past 4 weeks.
* Concomitant therapy with any of the following: IL 2 or other non-study immunotherapy regimens; cytotoxic chemotherapy; immunosuppressive agents; other investigation therapies; or chronic use of systemic corticosteroids; unless discontinued ≥ 4 weeks. A history of occasional use of steroid inhalers is allowed.
* Women of childbearing potential (who:
* Are unwilling or unable to use an acceptable method of contraception to avoid pregnancy for their entire study period and for at least 26 weeks after cessation of study drug, or
* Have a positive pregnancy test at baseline, or
* Are pregnant or breastfeeding.