Statin use is associated with improved overall survival in patients with melanoma
Melanoma remains a leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality. Recent literature suggests that statin use may improve outcomes in patients with cancer. In order to determine whether statins may improve survival in melanoma patients, we analyzed data from the Veterans Health Administration Corporate Data Warehouse that contains individually identifiable clinical and demographic information from the 1990s to the present for over 19 million individual veterans. We found that melanoma patients who were taking a statin had better 5-year OS when compared with veterans not taking statins. This relationship remained significa...
Source: Melanoma Research - July 10, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Short Communications: Clinical Research Source Type: research
Immunotherapy-induced granulomatous reaction in patients with melanoma
In this report, we present the cases of three patients with stage IV melanoma who all developed mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy during ICI treatment. While a complete response was observed in one patient, near complete responses were observed in the other two patients. Amid these favorable outcomes, all patients developed mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy approximately 6 months after the initiation of immunotherapy. Biopsies were performed to explore the underlying pathology of the lymph nodes, which revealed granulomatous reactions rather than metastases. Hence, immunotherapy was continued in all patients. The...
Source: Melanoma Research - July 10, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Short Communications: Clinical Research Source Type: research
Exceptional response to combination ipilimumab and nivolumab in metastatic uveal melanoma: Insights from genomic analysis
We present a case report of a now 66-year-old woman with diffuse metastatic uveal melanoma previously treated with a combination of ipilimumab/nivolumab, followed by maintenance nivolumab. Almost complete resolution of all sites of metastatic disease was observed except for one liver metastasis which regressed partially on immunotherapy. Notably, the patient had a significantly elevated BMI and developed widespread vitiligo on treatment. Whole-genome and transcriptome analysis was performed on the residual liver biopsy and molecular markers that may have contributed to the exceptional response were investigated. Several al...
Source: Melanoma Research - July 10, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Short Communications: Clinical Research Source Type: research
Survival in adult patients with BRAFV600 mutation-positive advanced melanoma: a noninterventional ambispective study of patients with cobimetinib combined with vemurafenib during the French early access program: MELANIS study
This study aimed to provide real-world outcomes in patients previously registered in this TAU. This noninterventional, ambispective, multicentre French study, conducted in patients previously registered in TAU, aimed to estimate overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) and to describe the tolerability of the therapeutic combination. At first cobimetinib intake (in combination with vemurafenib), 88% of the 185 evaluable patients had disease stage IV (brain metastasis: 70% of them), 31% had elevated lactate dehydrogenases, and 10% had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) index ≥2. Median OS was 16....
Source: Melanoma Research - July 10, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Original Articles: Clinical Research Source Type: research
Lack of association between anatomical sites of scalp melanomas and brain metastases does not support direct vascular spread
Primary scalp melanomas are associated with a higher rate of brain metastasis than primary cutaneous melanomas occurring at other head and neck and body sites, but the reason is unclear. Spread to brain parenchyma via emissary veins draining from the scalp to dural sinuses has been suggested. We sought to examine the locations of metastases from primary scalp and nonscalp head and neck melanomas to determine whether there was anatomical evidence supporting direct venous spread to the brain. Data from patients who developed distant metastases from cutaneous head and neck melanomas (CHNMs) between 2000 and 2018 were analyzed...
Source: Melanoma Research - July 10, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Original Articles: Clinical Research Source Type: research
Histopathological and immunological spectrum in response evaluation of talimogene laherparepvec treatment and correlation with durable response in patients with cutaneous melanoma
Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) is an intralesional oncolytic virotherapy for patients with irresectable stage III–IVM1a cutaneous melanoma. Although this treatment is considered to mainly act through T cell-mediated mechanisms, prominent numbers of plasma cells after T-VEC treatment have been described. The aim was to investigate how often these plasma cells were present, whether they were relevant in the response to treatment, and if these or other histopathological features were associated with durable response to treatment. Histopathological (granulomas, perineural inflammation, etc.) and immunological features [e.g...
Source: Melanoma Research - July 10, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Original Articles: Clinical Research Source Type: research
Epigenetic therapy to enhance therapeutic effects of PD-1 inhibition in therapy-resistant melanoma
Targeted therapy and immunotherapy have revolutionized the treatment of metastatic skin melanoma but around half of all patients develop resistance early or late during treatment. The situation is even worse for patients with metastatic uveal melanoma (UM). Here we hypothesized that the immunotherapy of therapy-resistant skin melanoma or UM can be enhanced by epigenetic inhibitors. Cultured B16F10 cells and human UM cells were treated with the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) entinostat or BETi JQ1. Entinostat-induced HLA expression and PD-L1, but JQ1 did not. A syngeneic mouse model carrying B16-F10 melanoma cells wa...
Source: Melanoma Research - July 10, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Original Articles: Translational Research Source Type: research
Female melanoma and estrogen receptors expression: an immunohistochemical pilot study
Epidemiologic data highlight sex differences in melanoma outcome. A putative role of sex hormones is still under investigation. Very few laboratory investigations have focused on the level of expression of estrogen receptors in melanoma. We evaluated the presence of estrogen receptors alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ) in melanoma specimens from female patients with a previous history of breast carcinoma (BC). Moreover, another group of female patients undergoing ovarian stimulation (OS) were also compared to two control groups matched for age and melanoma staging. The study was performed at the IRCCS Policlinico di Sant’Orsol...
Source: Melanoma Research - July 10, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Original Articles: Basic Research Source Type: research
LINC01063 functions as an oncogene in melanoma through regulation of miR-5194-mediated SOX12 expression
Melanoma is one of the most aggressive skin cancers and a major cause of cancer-linked deaths worldwide. As the morbidity and mortality of melanoma are increasing, it is necessary to elucidate the potential mechanism influencing melanoma progression. Tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues (5 cm away from tumors) from 22 melanoma patients at the I–II stage and 39 patients at the III–VI stage were acquired. The expression of LINC01063 in melanoma was estimated by quantitative PCR. Functional assays were employed to investigate the function of LINC01063 in melanoma. Mechanism assays were adopted to explore the mechanis...
Source: Melanoma Research - July 10, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Original Articles: Basic Research Source Type: research
Noncontrast-enhanced 3-Tesla MRI using surface coil as a complementary test for assessment of distribution and depth of locoregional cutaneous metastases of malignant melanoma
We present the application of noncontrast-enhanced 3-Tesla MRI using surface coil to detect locoregional cutaneous metastases of malignant melanoma on the basis of the topographic assessment of skin lesions. Furthermore, in a systematic review, we summarize the current knowledge about application of MRI in assessment of location, distribution, and depth of cutaneous primary malignant melanoma. MRI might be applied to evaluate the location, distribution, size, and depth of the locoregional cutaneous metastasis of malignant melanoma to identify the optimal cost-effective treatment strategies and monitor their effects. (Sourc...
Source: Melanoma Research - July 10, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Review article Source Type: research
Severe blistering eruptions induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors: a multicentre international study of 32 cases
Among dermatologic adverse events induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), bullous life-threatening reactions are rare. To better define the clinical and histological features, treatment, and prognosis of ICI-related severe blistering cutaneous eruptions. This retrospective case series was conducted between 2014/05/15 and 2021/04/15 by the dermatology departments of four international registries involved in drug reactions. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years old, skin eruption with blisters with detachment covering ≥1% body surface area and at least one mucous membrane involved, available pictures, and ICI as s...
Source: Melanoma Research - April 29, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Short Communications: Clinical Research Source Type: research
Severe treatment-induced inflammatory polyarthritis in advanced melanoma patients: 2 case reports
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and targeted therapies form the therapeutic mainstay for v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B V600-mutated metastatic melanoma. Both treatment regimens can cause inflammatory arthritis. The reported incidence of treatment-induced inflammatory arthritis is low, though presumably underestimated due to lack of awareness, clear definitions and uniform grading systems. Nevertheless, recognition is important as inflammatory arthritis can become chronic and thus affect the quality of life beyond treatment. In this short communication, we present two patients with metastatic melanoma tre...
Source: Melanoma Research - April 29, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Short Communications: Clinical Research Source Type: research
Robotic CyberKnife radiosurgery for small choroidal melanomas
Plaque brachytherapy is the most common procedure for the treatment of small choroidal melanoma, especially in posteriorly located tumors. However, there is only little information on outcome after treatment with stereotactic radiosurgery, for example, CyberKnife radiosurgery. We reviewed patients with choroidal melanoma (maximum tumor height 4 mm) treated with CyberKnife radiosurgery. Demographic information, tumor dimension, complications, metastasis and overall survival during the whole follow-up were tracked and analyzed with a specific focus on local tumor control and potential risk factors. One hundred eighty-eight...
Source: Melanoma Research - April 29, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Original Articles: Clinical Research Source Type: research
A lead-in safety study followed by a phase 2 clinical trial of dabrafenib, trametinib and hydroxychloroquine in advanced BRAFV600 mutant melanoma patients previously treated with BRAF-/MEK-inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors
The objective response rate was 20.0% and the disease control rate was 50.0% in the experimental arm, whereas no responses were observed before or after adding hydroxychloroquine in the contemporary control arm. No new safety signals were observed for dabrafenib and trametinib. Hydroxychloroquine was suspected of causing an anxiety/psychotic disorder in one patient. Based on an early negative evaluation of the risk/benefit ratio for adding hydroxychloroquine to dabrafenib and trametinib when ‘rechallenging’ BRAFV600mutant melanoma patients, recruitment to the trial was closed prematurely. (Source: Melanoma Research)
Source: Melanoma Research - April 29, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Original Articles: Clinical Research Source Type: research
Real-world data on melanoma brain metastases and survival outcome
Novel medical therapies have revolutionized outcome for patients with melanoma. However, patients with melanoma brain metastases (MBM) still have poor survival. Data are limited as these patients are generally excluded from clinical trials, wherefore real-world data on clinical outcome may support evidence-based treatment choices for patients with MBM. Patients diagnosed with MBM between 2008 and 2020 were included retrospectively. Patient characteristics, treatment, and outcome data were recorded from The Danish Metastatic Melanoma Database, pathology registries, electronic patient files, and radiation plans. Anti-program...
Source: Melanoma Research - April 29, 2022 Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Original Articles: Clinical Research Source Type: research
