Cancers & treatments·Regimen libraryFirst line

Nivolumab + ipilimumab (melanoma)

Checked 2026-09-09

Unresectable or metastatic melanoma, especially with brain metastases or PD-L1-negative disease

One cycle

every 21 days × 4 · about 12 weeks in total

21-day cycle × 4 combination, then nivolumab 480 mg every 4 weeks up to 2 years (about 12 weeks)Intravenous

Components

Drug	Dose	Route	Days	Note
Ipilimumab Monoclonal antibody (anti-CTLA-4)	3 mg/kg	IV	D1
Nivolumab Monoclonal antibody (anti-PD-1)	1 mg/kg	IV	D1

Cycles

4 combination, then nivolumab 480 mg every 4 weeks up to 2 years

21-day cycle

Emetogenicity

Minimal (<10%)

G-CSF

Not routine

Notes

Grade 3-4 immune-related events in about 59%; the flipped-dose (nivolumab 3 mg/kg + ipilimumab 1 mg/kg, CheckMate 511) is less toxic.

Used in

Melanoma Uveal melanoma

Trials

CheckMate 067 DREAMseq (ECOG-ACRIN EA6134)

Products

IpilimumabNivolumab

Source

CheckMate 067, NEJM 2015; 10-year update NEJM 2025

Reference doses for a typical adult from the cited protocol or label. Doses are adjusted for renal and hepatic function, age, performance status and prior toxicity, and institutional protocols vary. Verify against the current label and your local protocol before treating. Not medical advice.

Other regimens for these cancers

Pembrolizumab monotherapy

Adjuvant melanoma stage IIB-IV (1 year); PD-L1 TPS 50% or above NSCLC; MSI-high tumours; recurrent head and neck (CPS 1 or above)

every 21 days

Dabrafenib + trametinib

BRAF V600-mutant melanoma (adjuvant 1 year or metastatic), NSCLC, anaplastic thyroid cancer and tumour-agnostic use

every 28 days

Nivolumab + relatlimab

Unresectable or metastatic melanoma, first line

every 28 days

All regimens Pembrolizumab monotherapy →