Optimal Neo-adjuvant Combination Scheme of Ipilimumab and Nivolumab

Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults at least 18 years of age
* World Health Organization (WHO) Performance Status 0 or 1
* Cytologically or histologically confirmed resectable stage III melanoma with one or more macroscopic lymph node metastases (measurable according to RECIST 1.1), that can be biopsied, and no history of in-transit metastases within the last 6 months
* No other malignancies, except adequately treated and a cancer-related life-expectancy of more than 5 years
* Patient willing to undergo triple tumor biopsies and extra blood withdrawal during screening and in case of relapse
* No prior immunotherapy targeting CTLA-4, PD-1 or PD-L1
* No immunosuppressive medications within 6 months prior study inclusion
* Screening laboratory values must meet the following criteria: WBC ≥ 2.0x109/L, Neutrophils ≥1.5x109/L, Platelets ≥100 x109/L, Hemoglobin ≥5.5 mmol/L, Creatinine ≤1.5x ULN, AST ≤ 1.5 x ULN, ALT ≤ 1.5 x ULN, Bilirubin ≤1.5 X ULN
* Normal LDH
* Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must use appropriate method(s) of contra-ception. WOCBP should use an adequate method to avoid pregnancy for 23 weeks (30 days plus the time required for nivolumab to undergo five half-lives) after the last dose of investigational drug
* Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test (minimum sensitivity 25 IU/L or equivalent units of HCG) within 24 hours prior to the start of ipilimumab + nivolumab
* Men who are sexually active with WOCBP must use any contraceptive method with a failure rate of less than 1% per year. Men receiving nivolumab and who are sexually active with WOCBP will be instructed to adhere to contraception for a period of 31 weeks after the last dose of investigational product
* Women who are not of childbearing potential (i.e., who are postmenopausal), or surgically sterile as well as azoospermic men do not require contraception
* Patient is capable of understanding and complying with the protocol requirements and has signed the Informed Consent document.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Distantly metastasized melanoma
* History of in-transit metastases within the last 6 months
* No measurable lesion according to RECIST 1.1
* Subjects with any active autoimmune disease or a documented history of autoimmune disease, or history of syndrome that required systemic steroids or immunosuppressive medications, except for subjects with vitiligo or resolved childhood asthma/atopy
* Prior CTLA-4 or PD-1/PD-L1 targeting immunotherapy
* Radiotherapy prior or post-surgery
* Patients will be excluded if they test positive for hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBV sAg) or hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid (HCV antibody), indicating acute or chronic infection
* Patients will be excluded if they have known history of testing positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or known acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
* Allergies and Adverse Drug Reaction

  * History of allergy to study drug components
  * History of severe hypersensitivity reaction to any monoclonal antibody
* Underlying medical conditions that, in the Investigator's opinion, will make the administration of study drug hazardous or obscure the interpretation of toxicity determination or adverse events;
* Concurrent medical condition requiring the use of immunosuppressive medications, or immunosuppressive doses of systemic or absorbable topical corticosteroids;
* Use of other investigational drugs before study drug administration 30 days and 5 half-times before study inclusion
* Pregnant or nursing