Judit Kisistók, Ditte Sigaard Christensen, Mads Heilskov Rasmussen, Lone Duval, Ninna Aggerholm-Pedersen, Adam Andrzej Luczak, Boe Sandahl Sorensen, Martin Roelsgaard Jakobsen, Trine Heide Oellegaard, Nicolai Juul Birkbak
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Immunotherapy has revolutionized treatment of patients diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, where nearly half of patients receive clinical benefit. However, immunotherapy is also associated with immune-related adverse events, which may be severe and persistent. It is therefore important to identify patients that do not benefit from therapy early. Currently, regularly scheduled CT scans are used to investigate size changes in target lesions to evaluate progression and therapy response. This study aims to explore if panel-based analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) taken at 3-week intervals may provide a window into the growing cancer, can be used to identify nonresponding patients early, and determine genomic alterations associated with acquired resistance to checkpoint immunotherapy without analysis of tumor tissue biopsies. We designed a gene panel for ctDNA analysis and sequenced 4-6 serial plasma samples from 24 patients with unresectable stage III or IV melanoma and treated with first-line checkpoint inhibitors enrolled at the Department of Oncology at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. TERT was the most mutated gene found in ctDNA and associated with a poor prognosis. We detected more ctDNA in patients with high metastatic load, which indicates that more aggressive tumors release more ctDNA into the bloodstream. Although we did not find evidence of specific mutations associated with acquired resistance, we did demonstrate in this limited cohort of 24 patients that untargeted, panel-based ctDNA analysis has the potential to be used as a minimally invasive tool in clinical practice to identify patients where the benefits of immunotherapy outweigh the drawbacks.
期刊介绍:
Melanoma Research is a well established international forum for the dissemination of new findings relating to melanoma. The aim of the Journal is to promote the level of informational exchange between those engaged in the field. Melanoma Research aims to encourage an informed and balanced view of experimental and clinical research and extend and stimulate communication and exchange of knowledge between investigators with differing areas of expertise. This will foster the development of translational research. The reporting of new clinical results and the effect and toxicity of new therapeutic agents and immunotherapy will be given emphasis by rapid publication of Short Communications. Thus, Melanoma Research seeks to present a coherent and up-to-date account of all aspects of investigations pertinent to melanoma. Consequently the scope of the Journal is broad, embracing the entire range of studies from fundamental and applied research in such subject areas as genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, photobiology, pathology, immunology, and advances in clinical oncology influencing the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of melanoma.