BRAF mutation testing for patients diagnosed with stage III or stage IV melanoma: practical guidance for the Australian setting

BackgroundThe tumor lysate, particle-loaded, dendritic cell (TLPLDC) vaccine is created ex vivo by loading autologous dendritic cells (DC) with yeast cell wall particles (YCWP) containing autologous tumor lysate, thus delivering tumor antigens to the DC cytoplasm via phagocytosis. TLPLDC then activates a robust T cell response against the unique antigens for each patient. The primary analysis of the prospective, randomized, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase IIb trial in patients with resected stage III/IV melanoma showed TLPLDC improved 24-month disease-free survival (DFS) in the per-treatment (PT) analysis (patients completing the 6-month primary vaccine series). Here, we examine the secondary endpoint of 36-month DFS and overall survival (OS).MethodsPatients with resected stage III/IV melanoma were randomized 2:1 to TLPLDC vaccine or placebo (autologous DC loaded with empty YCWP). Treatments were given at 0, 1, 2, 6, 12 and 18 months. The protocol was amended to include patients receiving concurrent checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) to follow changes in standard of care. The co-primary endpoints were 24-month DFS by intention-to-treat (IT) analysis and per-treatment (PT) analysis, with secondary endpoints including 36-month DFS and OS by ITT and PT analysis, pre-specified analysis by stage, and safety as measured by CTCAE v4.03.ResultsOverall, 103 patients received TLPLDC and 41 placebo. In PT analysis, 65 patients received TLPLDC and 32 placebo. Total adverse events (AEs), grade 3+ AEs, and serious AEs (SAEs) were similar in placebo vs TLPLDC groups, with one related SAE per treatment arm. By ITT analysis, 36-month OS was 76.2% for TLPLDC vs 70.3% for placebo (HR 0.72, p=0.437) and 36-month DFS was 35.6% vs 27.1% (HR 0.95, p=0.841). By PT analysis, 36-month DFS was improved with TLPLDC (57.5% vs 35.0%; HR 0.50, p=0.025, figure 1). This effect was even more dramatic in resected stage IV patients (36-month DFS: 60.9% vs 0%; HR 0.12, p=0.001, figure 2).ConclusionsThis phase IIb trial again demonstrates the safety of the TLPLDC vaccine, and an improved 36-month DFS in patients with resected stage III/IV melanoma who complete the primary vaccine series, particularly in the stage IV subgroup. Next, a phase III trial will evaluate the efficacy of TLPLDC vaccine as adjuvant treatment for resected stage IV melanoma, with patients randomized to receive standard of care PD-1 inhibitors + TLPLDC versus PD-1 inhibitors + placebo.Abstract 300 Figure 136-month disease free survival for patients receiving TLPLDC vs placebo by PT analysisAbstract 300 Figure 236-month disease free survival for subset of stage IV melanoma patients receiving TLPLDC vs placebo by PT analysisTrial RegistrationThis is a phase IIb clinical trial registered under NCT02301611Ethics ApprovalThis study was approved by Western IRB, protocol 20141932.

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Surgical Management of Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers

10.2310/surg.2038 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

Jennifer A. Wargo ◽

Kenneth Tenabe

Keyword(s):

Lymph Node ◽

Surgical Treatment ◽

Skin Cancer ◽

Cell Carcinoma ◽

Stage Iv ◽

Stage Iii ◽

Non Melanoma Skin Cancer ◽

Skin Cancers ◽

Stage Iv Melanoma ◽

Melanoma Skin

The prevalence of malignant skin cancers has increased significantly over the past several years. Approximately 1.2 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed per year. More alarming, up to 80,000 cases of melanoma are diagnosed per year, an incidence that has been steadily increasing, with a lifetime risk of 1 in 50 for the development of melanoma. The disturbing increase in the incidence of both non-melanoma skin cancer and melanoma can largely be attributed to the social attitude toward sun exposure. The clinical assessment and management of skin lesions can be challenging. This review describes the assessment process, including thorough history and examination; the need for possible biopsy; and excision criteria. Specific types of skin cancer are distinguished and include basal cell carcinoma; squamous cell carcinoma; and melanoma; and for each type the incidence; epidemiology; histologic subtypes; diagnosis; and both surgical and non-surgical treatments are provided. Stages I-IV of melanoma are detailed, with prognostic factors described. Surgical treatment for stages I and II include description of the margins of excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy. The surgical treatment of Stage III melanoma further includes therapeutic lymph node dissection and isolated limb perfusion. Adjuvant therapies are also presented and include radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The additional treatment of metastasectomy for Stage IV melanoma is described. For both Stage III and IV melanoma, the study of vaccines to host immune cells is reported. For Stage IV melanoma, the text also describes immunotherapy treatment. Operative procedures specific to superficial and deep groin dissections are outlined. This review contains 9 figures, 3 tables, and 96 references.

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Phase II study of aflibercept (VEGF trap) in recurrent inoperable stage III or stage IV melanoma of cutaneous or ocular origin

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2009.27.15_suppl.9028 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. 9028-9028

Author(s):

A. A. Tarhini ◽

S. Christensen ◽

P. Frankel ◽

K. Margolin ◽

C. Ruel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phase Ii ◽

Phase Ii Study ◽

Angiogenesis Inhibitor ◽

Stage Iv ◽

Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Stage Iii ◽

Unknown Primary ◽

Vegf Receptor ◽

Stage Iv Melanoma

9028 Background: Aflibercept is a fusion protein combining the Fc portion of human IgG1with the extracellular ligand-binding domains of human VEGFR1 and VEGFR2, acting as a high-affinity soluble VEGF receptor and potent angiogenesis inhibitor. Methods: Phase II study of aflibercept in patients with inoperable stage III or IV melanoma who had received no prior chemotherapy or hormonal therapy. A 2-stage design was adopted focusing upon response rate (RECIST) and 4-month PFS rate. First stage accrual of 21 patients was specified, while final accrual of 41 is planned, with adequate response/4 month PFSR. Aflibercept was given at 4 mg/kg IV every 2 weeks. Response was assessed every 8 weeks. Results: Twenty seven patients (16 male, 11 female), age 23–83 (median 58) have been enrolled to date. All had AJCC stage IV melanoma (3M1a, 3M1b, 21M1c). Karnofsky PS: 100 (13), 90 (11) or 80 (3). Nine patients had primary ocular melanoma, 16 cutaneous and 2 unknown primary site. A total of 160 cycles have been administered (median 4; range 1–18). Grade 3/4 toxicities included cerebral ischemia (1 patient; 4%), confusion (1; 4%), thrombocytopenia (1; 4%), hypertension (7; 26%), hypotension (1; 4%), left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (1; 4%), fatigue (1; 4%), proteinuria (4; 15%), extraocular muscle paresis (1; 4%), renal failure (1; 4%), back pain (1; 4%), headache (1; 4%). Interim analysis was conducted after the first 21 patients (stage 1). Eight (1 M1a, 1M1b, 6M1c; 4 ocular, 3 cutaneous, 1 unknown primary) of the first 21 patients had at least 4 months of PFS (10 out of 27; 2 additional patients with cutaneous melanoma had SD: 1M1a and 1M1c). One patient (23rd; cutaneous, M1c) had a confirmed complete remission. Four patients were taken off study prior to response evaluation for toxicity (3) or treatment refusal (1). One patient is currently disease free who was not evaluable for response (previous surgery and radiofrequency ablation of measurable disease site). Eleven patients had progression. Conclusions: Aflibercept can be administered with acceptable toxicity, and exhibits promising antitumor efficacy against advanced melanoma. This study continues second stage accrual with anticipated closure before June 2009. [Table: see text]

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A phase II single arm study of pazopanib and paclitaxel as first-line treatment for unresectable stage III and stage IV melanoma: Interim analysis.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2012.30.15_suppl.8524 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. 8524-8524 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

John P. Fruehauf ◽

Beverly Alger ◽

Basmina Parmakhtiar ◽

James G. Jakowatz ◽

Claudette Bettis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phase Ii ◽

Interim Analysis ◽

Cell Cancer ◽

Stage Iv ◽

Stage Iii ◽

First Line ◽

Open Label ◽

Unresectable Stage ◽

Biomarker Analysis ◽

Stage Iv Melanoma

8524 Background: Metastatic melanoma lacks effective therapy. Pazopanib is a small-molecule inhibitor of VEGFR-1,2,3, PDGFR-B and c-KIT that has antiangiogenic activity in renal cell cancer as well as inhibition of melanoma tumor xenografts. We designed a phase II single arm, open label clinical trial evaluating pazopanib in combination with metronomic paclitaxel as first line therapy for subjects with unresectable stage III and stage IV melanoma. Methods: This protocol utilizes a Simon 2-stage Minimax design, with a planned interim analysis to confirm >3 responders to move to the second stage. To date, 20 eligible patients have been enrolled with 17 evaluable for response. All subjects were treatment naïve and received paclitaxel at 80mg/m2 weekly for three weeks in a 4 week cycle and pazopanib at 800mg as a continuous daily oral dose. The primary endpoint is 6 month progression free survival. Exploratory endpoints include biomarker analysis that may be associated with treatment outcomes (serum VEGF, soluble VEGF R2, serum HIF, serum TSP1 and BRAF mutation status). An additional exploratory endpoint includes the in vitro activity of pazopanib and paclitaxel on patient biopsy material co-cultured with vascular endothelial cells. RECIST criteria were used to define treatment response. Results: For the 17 evaluable patients treated to date the following results were seen: 1 CR, 6 PR’s, 8 SD’s and 2 PD’s. The overall RR (CR+PR) was 40%. Total disease control rate was 80% (PR+SD). The most common AEs/lab abnormalities were nausea (71%), hypertension (57%), fatigue (57%) and vomiting (43%). Grade 3-4 AEs included hypertension (28%), transaminitis (21%) and neutropenia (14%). One patient discontinued for grade 4 transaminitis which subsequently resolved completely. Dose reductions were required for pazopanib in 5 patients and for paclitaxel in one patient. Conclusions: Planned interim analysis of this phase II study demonstrated that pazopanib in combination with paclitaxel was well tolerated and resulted in a 40% response rate, indicating that this combination is of further interest. Accrual will continue to reach a goal of 60 patients.

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Incidence of New Primary Melanomas After Diagnosis of Stage III and IV Melanoma

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2013.49.5572 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 32 (8) ◽

pp. 816-823 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Lisa Zimmer ◽

Lauren E. Haydu ◽

Alexander M. Menzies ◽

Richard A. Scolyer ◽

Richard F. Kefford ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cumulative Incidence ◽

Braf Inhibitor ◽

Stage Iv ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

Stage Iii ◽

Prior History ◽

Braf Inhibitors ◽

History Of ◽

Stage Iii Melanoma ◽

Stage Iv Melanoma

Purpose New primary melanomas (NPMs) have developed in some patients with metastatic melanoma treated with BRAF inhibitors. We sought to determine the background incidence of spontaneous NPMs after a diagnosis of American Joint Committee on Cancer/International Union Against Cancer stage III or IV melanoma in patients not treated with a BRAF inhibitor. Patients and Methods Patients diagnosed with stage III or IV melanoma at Melanoma Institute Australia between 1983 and 2008 were analyzed, and those who received a BRAF inhibitor were excluded. Results Two hundred twenty-nine (5%) of 4,215 patients with stage III melanoma and 43 (1%) of 3,563 patients with stage IV melanoma had at least one NPM after diagnosis of stage III or IV disease. The 6-month, 1-year, and 10-year cumulative incidence rates of developing an NPM after stage III melanoma were 1.2% (95% CI, 0.86% to 1.51%), 1.8% (95% CI, 1.44% to 2.26%), and 5.9% (95% CI, 5.08% to 6.74%), respectively. The 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year cumulative incidence rates of NPM after diagnosis of stage IV melanoma were 0.2% (95% CI, 0.07% to 0.36%), 0.3% (95% CI, 0.15% to 0.51%), and 0.4% (95% CI, 0.25% to 0.7%), respectively. In both patients with stage III and stage IV melanoma, male patients and patients with a prior history of multiple primaries had a higher incidence of NPM. Conclusion Patients with stage III and stage IV melanoma remain at risk for development of further primary melanomas, particularly if they have a history of multiple primary melanomas before stage III or IV disease. The incidence rates are lower than those reported in patients receiving BRAF inhibitors. However, the results must be compared with caution because dermatologic assessment is more frequent in BRAF inhibitor trials.

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