scholarly journals EXTH-12. RADIATION ENHANCES MELANOMA RESPONSE TO IMMUNOTHERAPY AND SYNERGIZES WITH BENZODIAZEPINES TO PROMOTE ANTI-TUMOR ACTIVITY

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi84-vi84
Author(s):  
Daniel Pomeranz Krummel ◽  
Tahseen Nasti ◽  
Benjamin Izar ◽  
Maxwell Xu ◽  
Lindsey Lowder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gabaa Receptors ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Combination Strategies ◽  
Melanoma Model ◽  
Melanoma Patients ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Anti Tumor Activity ◽  
Systemic Therapies

Abstract Melanoma brain metastases (MBM) occur in ~50% of advanced melanoma patients. It is unclear if systemic therapies synergize with radiotherapy (RT) and what the impact of RT timing has on efficacy. We find that RT followed by ICI (immune checkpoint inhibitors) (RTàICI) improves MBM patient survival compared to other combination strategies, also shown here in a murine melanoma model. RNA-seq of MBM tumors in the RTàICI group exhibit overrepresentation of genes implicated in NFKB signaling. There is also expression of GABAA receptor subunits across both treatment groups. We show that melanoma cells express functional GABAA receptors and that benzodiazepines impair tumor growth. Combination of sub-lethal RT doses with benzodiazepine results in significant ipsilateral and out of field abscopal anti-tumor activity, which is associated with enhanced tumor infiltration with poly-functional CD8 T-cells. This study provides evidence that RT enhances MBM response to ICI and synergizes with benzodiazepines to promote anti-tumor activity.

scholarly journals Beyond Microsatellite Instability: Evolving Strategies Integrating Immunotherapy for Microsatellite Stable Colorectal Cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Pecci ◽  
Luca Cantini ◽  
Alessandro Bittoni ◽  
Edoardo Lenci ◽  
Alessio Lupi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Microsatellite Instability ◽  
Mismatch Repair ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Tnm Classification ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
First Line Therapy ◽  
Combination Strategies ◽  
The Impact

Opinion statementAdvanced colorectal cancer (CRC) is a heterogeneous disease, characterized by several subtypes with distinctive genetic and epigenetic patterns. During the last years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revamped the standard of care of several tumors such as non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma, highlighting the role of immune cells in tumor microenvironment (TME) and their impact on cancer progression and treatment efficacy. An “immunoscore,” based on the percentage of two lymphocyte populations both at tumor core and invasive margin, has been shown to improve prediction of treatment outcome when added to UICC-TNM classification. To date, pembrolizumab, an anti-programmed death protein 1 (PD1) inhibitor, has gained approval as first-line therapy for mismatch-repair-deficient (dMMR) and microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) advanced CRC. On the other hand, no reports of efficacy have been presented in mismatch-repair-proficient (pMMR) and microsatellite instability-low (MSI-L) or microsatellite stable (MSS) CRC. This group includes roughly 95% of all advanced CRC, and standard chemotherapy, in addition to anti-EGFR or anti-angiogenesis drugs, still represents first treatment choice. Hopefully, deeper understanding of CRC immune landscape and of the impact of specific genetic and epigenetic alterations on tumor immunogenicity might lead to the development of new drug combination strategies to overcome ICIs resistance in pMMR CRC, thus paving the way for immunotherapy even in this subgroup.

Genomic landscape of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) deletion.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 9116-9116
Author(s):  
Stephen L. Graziano ◽  
Dean C. Pavlick ◽  
Ethan Sokol ◽  
Shakti H. Ramkissoon ◽  
Eric Allan Severson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Cell ◽  
Synthetic Lethality ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Large Cell ◽  
Combination Strategies ◽  
Genomic Landscape ◽  
Comprehensive Genomic Profiling ◽  
Tumor Mutational Burden ◽  
Cell Expression ◽  
The Impact

9116 Background: NSCLC remains a major cause of cancer-associated mortality despite major advancements in treatments. In addition to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPI), new strategies for clinically advanced NSCLC now include the development of new synthetic lethality targets focused on protein arginine methyl transferases such as PRMT5 that exploit the impact of tumor cell genomic loss of MTAP. Methods: 29,379 advanced/metastatic NSCLC cases underwent hybrid-capture based comprehensive genomic profiling to evaluate all classes of genomic alterations (GA). Tumor mutational burden (TMB) was determined on up to 1.1 Mb of sequenced DNA and microsatellite instability (MSI) was determined on up to 114 loci. PD-L1 tumor cell expression was determined by DAKO 22C3 immunohistochemistry (IHC); low positive was a tumor proportion score (TPS) 1-49% and high positive was a TPS ≥50%. Results: 3,928 NSCLC exhibited MTAP homozygous loss. Cases had the following subtypes: adenocarcinoma (59%), squamous cell ca (22%), NSCLC NOS (16%), and large cell neuroendocrine, sarcomatoid, adenosquamous ca (all 1%). GA/tumor were similar when CDKN2A/B losses associated with 9p21 co-deletion with MTAP loss are excluded. Significant differences in currently targetable GA included KRAS G12C higher in MTAP-intact NSCLC (P =.0003) and EGFR short variant mutations higher in MTAP-deleted NSCLC (P <.0001). MTAP-intact NSCLC had higher frequencies of GAs in TP53 (P <.0001) and RB1 and a lower frequency of SMARCA4 (P <.0001). GAs frequencies in ERBB2, MET, ALK, ROS1 and NTRK1 were similar. Biomarkers for potential ICPI efficacy were higher in MTAP-intact including TMB ≥10mut/Mb (P =.0002) and low and high PD-L1 IHC staining (P =.01). Biomarkers potentially predictive of ICPI resistance ( STK11 and KEAP1) were similar in both groups. Conclusions: MTAP loss occurs in 13% of NSCLC, supporting the development of novel targeted therapies designed to exploit PRMT5 hyper-dependence in these tumors. MTAP loss in NSCLC is accompanied by differences in targeted and ICPI options for these patients which may impact future combination strategies. Further study of anti-PRMT5 drugs that are enabled by MTAP loss in NSCLC appears warranted.[Table: see text]

scholarly journals Characterization of a Myeloid Activation Signature That Correlates with Survival in Melanoma Patients

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1431
Author(s):  
Mirela Kremenovic ◽  
Nives Rombini ◽  
Alfred A. Chan ◽  
Thomas Gruber ◽  
Lukas Bäriswyl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Overall Survival ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Myeloid Cells ◽  
Poly I:C ◽  
Cellular Interactions ◽  
Therapeutic Modalities ◽  
Signature Genes ◽  
Melanoma Model ◽  
Melanoma Patients

Understanding the cellular interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME) of melanoma paved the way for novel therapeutic modalities, such as T cell-targeted immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). However, only a limited fraction of patients benefits from such therapeutic modalities, highlighting the need for novel predictive and prognostic biomarkers. As myeloid cells orchestrate the tumor-specific immune response and influence the efficacy of ICI, assessing their activation state within the TME is of clinical relevance. Here, we characterized a myeloid activation (MA) signature, comprising the three genes Cxcl11, Gbp1, and Ido1, from gene expression data of human myeloid cells stimulated with poly(I:C) or cGAMP. This MA signature positively correlated to overall survival in melanoma. In addition, increased expression of the MA signature was observed in melanoma patients responding to ICI (anti-PD-1), as compared to non-responders. Furthermore, the MA signature was validated in the murine B16F10 melanoma model where it was induced and associated with decreased tumor growth upon intratumoral administration of poly(I:C) and cGAMP. Finally, we were able to visualize co-expression of the MA signature genes in myeloid cells of human melanoma tissues using RNAscope in situ hybridization. In conclusion, the MA signature indicates the activation state of myeloid cells and represents a prognostic biomarker for the overall survival in melanoma patients.

Impact of immunotherapy on survival differences in patients with melanoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e21550-e21550
Author(s):  
Raghav Tripathi ◽  
Jeremy S. Bordeaux ◽  
Luke Rothermel ◽  
Ankit Mangla
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽  
Average Survival ◽  
Melanoma Patients ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Survival Differences ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Hispanic White

e21550 Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is well known to be associated with secondary malignancies like melanoma. Patients with melanoma and CLL are known to have poorer prognosis compared to patients without CLL. Checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) started gaining traction in 2011 after ipilimumab approval and are widely used in treatment of advanced melanoma. The objective of this study is to determine the survival of patients with melanoma and CLL in the era of CPI (2011 onwards) compared to previous years. Methods: We identified patients with melanoma and CLL reported to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER-18) program. We created cohorts of patients with melanoma and CLL vs. melanoma without CLL and split the cohorts into patients diagnosed from 2000-2010 and 2011-2017 to evaluate the impact of immunotherapy on overall all-cause survival. Kaplain-Meier survival curves were created for each of the four cohorts using the Ederer/direct-adjusted survival method. Standard Cox regression models adjusted for age and sex used to compare survival between subgroups. Two-sided p-values < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: From 2000-2017, 536,264 patients with melanoma were included in this study. 2,945 [0.55%] patients had coexisting CLL. Most patients were male (303,477 [56.6%]), age 60-79 (235,833 [44.0%]), non-Hispanic white (499,151 [93.08%]), and diagnosed from 2000-2010 (285,292 [53.2%]) with melanoma of the trunk (156,722 [29.2%]). From 2000-2010, patients with melanoma had an average survival of 91.4 months (95% CI 88.7-94.1) and those with coexisting CLL had an average survival of 59.3 months (95% CI 58.1-60.6). From 2011-2017, patients with melanoma had an average survival of 129.1 months (95% CI 127.7-130.5) and those with coexisting CLL had an average survival of 116.0 months (95% CI 113.5-118.5). The difference in survival in patients with melanoma vs. melanoma and CLL in 2000-2010 (32.1 months) is significantly greater than that of patients from 2011-2017 (13.1 months, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Although CLL continues to confer a survival disadvantage in patients with melanoma, the survival of patients with CLL and melanoma is better in the CPI-era. We also demonstrate that in the CPI era the gap between the survival of patients with melanoma and CLL and melanoma alone is also reducing significantly.

scholarly journals CMET-36. IMMUNOTHERAPY VERSUS STANDARD OF CARE IN MELANOMA BRAIN METASTASES WITH KNOWN BRAF STATUS

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi59-vi59
Author(s):  
Addison Barnett ◽  
Soumya Sagar ◽  
Adam Lauko ◽  
Wei (Auston) Wei ◽  
Samuel Chao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Median Survival ◽  
Systemic Therapy ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Local Therapy ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Melanoma Patients ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Braf Mutant

Abstract INTRO/OBJECTIVE A mutation of the BRAF protein is seen in approximately 50% of melanoma patients. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are standard therapy in melanoma patients independent of a patient’s BRAF status. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the impact of BRAF status in patients treated with ICI compared to non-ICI systemic therapy on overall survival (OS) in patients with melanoma brain metastasis (MBM). METHODS We reviewed 351 patients with MBM treated at our tertiary care center between 2000 and 2018. Of these, 144 had known BRAF status, 71 of which were BRAF mutant and 73 were BRAF wild-type. OS was calculated from the date of diagnosis of MBM to compare the efficacy of ICI to other systemic therapies. Many of these patients received multiple lines of treatment including targeted therapies at some point during their care. The log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard model was utilized to determine differences in OS. RESULTS Eighty-four percent of patients received local therapy that included either surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, or whole brain radiation therapy. In BRAF wild-type patients, 40 received ICI and 33 underwent non-ICI systemic therapy with a median survival (5.6 vs 7.1 months) and 2-year survival (28% vs 32%), respectively (p=0.64). Of the BRAF mutant patients, 33 received ICI and 38 did not with a median survival (17.1 vs 9.0 months) and 2-year survival (36% and 19%), respectively (p=0.014). When controlling for age, KPS, ECM, and number of lesions, BRAF mutant MBM patients treated with ICI compared to non-ICI had an OS hazard ratio, HR=0.4 (95% CI=0.21 – 0.78, p=0.0069). CONCLUSION ICI therapy in BRAF mutant MBM patients results in improved OS compared to those with non-ICI systemic therapy. No such difference was observed in the BRAF wild-type cohort.

scholarly journals 20. MELANOMA CELL INTRINSIC GABAA RECEPTOR ENHANCEMENT POTENTIATES RADIATION AND IMMUNE CHECKPOINT INHIBITOR RESPONSE BY PROMOTING DIRECT AND T CELL-MEDIATED ANTI-TUMOR ACTIVITY

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii3-ii3
Author(s):  
Soma Sengupta ◽  
Tahseen Nasti ◽  
Milota Kaluzova ◽  
Laura Kallay ◽  
Johannes Melms ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metastatic Melanoma ◽  
Melanoma Cell ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Tumor Volume ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Melanoma Patients ◽  
Anti Tumor Activity

Abstract Most metastatic melanoma patients exhibit poor and variable response to radiotherapy and targeted therapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors. There is a need for therapeutics that can potentiate existing treatments to positively impact clinical outcomes of metastatic melanoma patients. We reanalyzed melanoma TCGA transcriptomes and identified, as linked to previously defined molecular subgroups, enhanced expression of genes coding for subunits of the Type A GABA receptor (GABAAR), a chloride ion channel and major inhibitory neurotransmitter receptor. Using whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology, we find that melanoma cells possess GABAARs that control membrane permeability to anions. Select benzodiazepines, by enhancing GABAAR mediated anion transport, depolarize melanoma cell mitochondrial membrane potential and impair cell viability in vitro. Using a syngeneic melanoma mouse model, we find that a benzodiazepine promotes reduction in tumor volume when administered alone and potentiated radiation or immune checkpoint inhibitor α-PD-L1. When a benzodiazepine is combined with concurrent α-PD-L1 and a sub-lethal radiation dose, there is near complete loss of tumor, beyond what is observed for benzodiazepine with radiation or α-PD-L1. Mechanistically, benzodiazepine with radiation or α-PD-L1 results in ipsilateral and an abscopal tumor volume reduction commensurate with enhanced infiltration into the tumor milieu of polyfunctional CD8 T-cells. There is also an increased expression of genes with roles in the cytokine-cytokine receptor and p53 signaling pathways. This study provides evidence for melanoma cell GABAARs as a therapeutic vulnerability with benzodiazepines promoting both direct and immune-mediated anti-tumor activity.

scholarly journals Integration of Systemic Therapy and Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Brain Metastases

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 3682
Author(s):  
Raees Tonse ◽  
Martin C. Tom ◽  
Minesh P. Mehta ◽  
Manmeet S. Ahluwalia ◽  
Rupesh Kotecha
Keyword(s):  
Stereotactic Radiosurgery ◽  
Systemic Therapy ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Tumor Biology ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Whole Brain Radiotherapy ◽  
Cancer Therapeutics ◽  
Optimal Timing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Systemic Therapies

Brain metastasis (BM) represents a common complication of cancer, and in the modern era requires multi-modal management approaches and multi-disciplinary care. Traditionally, due to the limited efficacy of cytotoxic chemotherapy, treatment strategies are focused on local treatments alone, such as whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and resection. However, the increased availability of molecular-based therapies with central nervous system (CNS) penetration now permits the individualized selection of tailored systemic therapies to be used alongside local treatments. Moreover, the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), with demonstrated CNS activity has further revolutionized the management of BM patients. The rapid introduction of these cancer therapeutics into clinical practice, however, has led to a significant dearth in the published literature about the optimal timing, sequencing, and combination of these systemic therapies along with SRS. This manuscript reviews the impact of tumor biology and molecular profiles on the management paradigm for BM patients and critically analyzes the current landscape of SRS, with a specific focus on integration with systemic therapy. We also discuss emerging treatment strategies combining SRS and ICIs, the impact of timing and the sequencing of these therapies around SRS, the effect of corticosteroids, and review post-treatment imaging findings, including pseudo-progression and radiation necrosis.

scholarly journals Emergent immunotherapy approaches for brain metastases

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_5) ◽  
pp. v43-v51
Author(s):  
Jianbo Wang ◽  
Hussein A Tawbi
Keyword(s):  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Single Agent ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibition ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibition ◽  
Steroid Dependency ◽  
Melanoma Brain Metastases ◽  
Melanoma Patients ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Systemic Therapies

Abstract Brain metastases from solid tumors are increasing in incidence, especially as outcomes of systemic therapies continue to extend patients’ overall survival. The long-held notion that the brain is an immune sanctuary has now been largely refuted with increasing evidence that immunotherapy can induce durable responses in brain metastases. Single agent immune checkpoint inhibition with anti-CTLA4 and anti-PD1 antibodies induces durable responses in 15%–20% in melanoma brain metastases as long as patients are asymptomatic and do not require corticosteroids. The combination of anti-CTLA4 with anti-PD-1 antibodies induces an intracranial response in over 50% of asymptomatic melanoma patients, and much lower rate of otherwise durable responses (20%) in symptomatic patients or those on steroids. Data in other cancers, such as renal cell carcinoma, are accumulating indicating a role for immunotherapy. Emerging immunotherapy approaches will have to focus on increasing response rates, decreasing toxicity, and decreasing steroid dependency. The path to those advances will have to include a better understanding of the mechanisms of response and resistance to immunotherapy in brain metastases, the use of novel agents such as anti-LAG3 checkpoint inhibitors, targeted therapy (oncogene directed or TKIs), and possibly surgery and SRS to improve the outcomes of patients with brain metastases.

scholarly journals The impact of immunosenescence on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in melanoma patients: a meta-analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol Volume 11 ◽  
pp. 7521-7527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Li ◽  
Xuefang Yang ◽  
Yumiao Feng ◽  
Lijuan Wu ◽  
Wei Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Melanoma Patients ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals The Predictive Value of MAP2K1/2 Mutations on Efficiency of Immunotherapy in Melanoma

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting Ye ◽  
Jie-Ying Zhang ◽  
Xin-Yi Liu ◽  
Yu-Han Zhou ◽  
Si-Yue Yuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cox Regression ◽  
Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Objective Response ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
The Cancer Genome Atlas ◽  
Independent Predictive Factor ◽  
Cox Regression Analysis ◽  
Melanoma Patients ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundMAP2K1/2 genes are mutated in approximately 8% of melanoma patients; however, the impact of MAP2K1/2 gene alterations on the efficiency of immunotherapy has not been clarified. This study focused on the correlation between MAP2K1/2 gene mutations and the treatment response.MethodsSix metastatic melanoma clinical cohorts treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors [anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) or anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)] were recruited in this study. RNA expression profiling results from each of these six cohorts and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) melanoma cohort were analysed to explore the mechanism related to immune activation.ResultsCompared to patients with wild-type MAP2K1/2, those with MAP2K1/2 mutations in an independent anti-CTLA-4-treated cohort had higher objective response rates, longer progression-free survival, and longer overall survival (OS). These findings were further validated in a pooled anti-CTLA-4-treated cohort in terms of the OS. However, there was no correlation between MAP2K1/2 mutations and OS in the anti-PD-1-treated cohort. Subgroup Cox regression analysis suggested that patients with MAP2K1/2 mutations received fewer benefits from anti-PD-1 monotherapy than from anti-CTLA-4 treatment. Furthermore, transcriptome profiling analysis revealed that melanoma tumours with MAP2K mutation was enriched in CD8+ T cells, B cells, and neutrophil cells, also expressed high levels of CD33 and IL10, implying a potential mechanism underlying the benefit of melanoma patients with MAP2K1/2 mutations from anti-CTLA-4 treatment.ConclusionsMAP2K1/2 mutations were identified as an independent predictive factor for anti-CTLA-4 therapy in melanoma patients. Anti-CTLA-4 treatment might be more effective than anti-PD-1 therapy for patients with MAP2K1/2-mutated melanoma.

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