Phase II Trial of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Followed by Ipilimumab in Treating Patients With Stage IV Melanoma

This phase II trial studies how well stereotactic body radiotherapy and ipilimumab work in treating patients with stage IV melanoma. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) may be able to send x-rays directly to the tumor and cause less damage to normal tissue. Monoclonal antibodies, such as ipilimumab, target certain cells to interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving SBRT with ipilimumab may kill more tumor cells.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine feasibility and immune-related clinical responses associated with SBRT when given in conjunction with ipilimumab. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine late toxicity and immune pharmacodynamic changes after SBRT followed by ipilimumab. OUTLINE: Patients undergo a total of 3 fractions of stereotactic body radiotherapy between days 1-13. Patients then receive ipilimumab intravenously (IV) every 3 weeks. Treatment repeats every 3 weeks for 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up within 60 days, and then every effort will be made to obtain records of patients during this follow up, and permission will be sought for the investigators and/or study team to re-contact the patient directly with regard to health status and toxicity.