Targeted therapy for rare BRAF-mutated melanoma: Updated multicenter analysis and launch of a publicly accessible online outcome database.

Introduction: While BRAF-/MEK-inhibitor therapy is well established in V600E/K-mutated melanoma, the efficacy in advanced melanoma with rare BRAF mutations remains uncertain. This is an updated analysis of an international data collection including 49 new patients, accompanied by development of a publicly accessible global database.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted at 20 international cancer centers, evaluating 143 patients with rare BRAF V600 (V600-nonE/K; 48 %) and non-V600 (52 %) mutations.

Metabolic parameters on baseline and early [F]FDG PET/CT as a predictive biomarker for resistance to BRAF/MEK inhibition in advanced cutaneous BRAFV600-mutated melanoma.

Background: [F]FDG PET/CT plays a crucial role in evaluating cancer patients and assessing treatment response, including in BRAF-mutated melanoma. Metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) have emerged as promising alternatives to standardized uptake value (SUV)-based measures for tumor assessment. This study evaluates the predictive value of SUVpeak, MTV, and TLG in predicting progression-free survival (PFS) in advanced BRAF-mutated melanoma treated with BRAF/MEK inhibitors.

The Usefulness of the ASSUSTENT Application and ASSIST Brochure in Cancer Patients Using Sunitinib.

Purpose of ResearchThe ASSUSTENT application and the ASSIST brochure have been developed to support medication intake and symptom monitoring. This study aimed to evaluate patient experiences and the factors that are a barrier to or facilitate the use of these tools. Additionally, the effect of their use on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and satisfaction with information about medication was also assessed.

Onset and progression of atherosclerosis in patients with melanoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are effective anticancer agents but significantly increase cardiovascular risk. This could be due to its potential to induce or worsen atherosclerosis. We evaluated the onset and progression of atherosclerosis during ICI treatment in patients with melanoma and investigated risk factors for substantial (>10%/year) atherosclerotic plaque growth in five segments of the arterial tree.

Exhaled breath analysis with the use of an electronic nose to predict response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with metastatic melanoma: melaNose trial.

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have significantly improved the overall survival for patients with different solid tumors. However, there is an urgent need for predictive biomarkers to identify patients with metastatic melanoma who do not benefit from treatment with ICIs, to prevent unnecessary immune related adverse events (irAEs). Electronic noses (eNoses) showed promising results in the detection of cancer as well as the prediction of response outcome in patients with cancer.

From ICI to ICU: A systematic review of patients with solid tumors who are treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Purpose: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved the survival of patients with different solid tumors and even resulted in cure of metastatic disease. Since the introduction of ICIs, an increasing number of patients is admitted to the ICU for severe and potentially life-threatening immune related adverse events (irAEs). The outcome of patients who are admitted to the ICU because of severe irAEs is still unknown.

Critical evaluation of sentinel lymph node biopsy in pT1b and pT2a melanoma patients: A nationwide population-based study.

Introduction: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) aims to stage patients. According to the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer(AJCC) staging manual, patients with pT1b or pT2a melanoma can be eligible for adjuvant immunotherapy, however, only if they have a sentinel node (SN) tumour burden > 1 mm. This study aims to determine the percentage of patients with pT1b or pT2a that will become eligible for adjuvant immunotherapy following SLNB.

Size matters: Early progression of melanoma brain metastases after treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are effective treatments for patients with metastatic melanoma, including patients with brain metastasis (BM). However, half of patients with melanoma BM have intracranial progression within 6 months after the start of ICIs. We investigated whether size affects response to ICIs in patients with melanoma BM.

Development of a Decision Model to Estimate the Outcomes of Treatment Sequences in Advanced Melanoma.

BackgroundA decision model for patients with advanced melanoma to estimate outcomes of a wide range of treatment sequences is lacking.ObjectivesTo develop a decision model for advanced melanoma to estimate outcomes of treatment sequences in clinical practice with the aim of supporting decision making. The article focuses on methodology and long-term health benefits.

Cost-effectiveness of treatment sequences for BRAF-mutant advanced melanoma in the Netherlands using a health economic model.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of treatment sequences for patients with advanced melanoma with a BRAF mutation in the Netherlands from a societal perspective.

Methods: A semi-Markov model with a life-time horizon has been used to evaluate cost-effectiveness of 21 treatment sequences. Real-world data from the Dutch Melanoma Treatment Registry (DMTR) were used to estimate time to progression, next treatment and death.

First real-world clinical experience with [Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer beyond VISION and TheraP criteria.

Purpose: To report real-world clinical experience with [Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in a single tertiary referral university hospital.

Methods: Patients with mCRPC who were treated with [Lu]Lu-PSMA-I&T TRT as standard of care between February 2022 and August 2023 were included in this retrospective study. Patients were treated with a maximum of six cycles with a fixed activity of 7.

Impact of personalized response-directed surgery and adjuvant therapy on survival after neoadjuvant immunotherapy in stage III melanoma: Comparison of 3-year data from PRADO and OpACIN-neo.

Background: Pathologic response following neoadjuvant immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in stage III melanoma serves as a surrogate marker for long-term outcomes. This may support more personalized, response-directed treatment strategies.

Methods: The OpACIN-neo and PRADO trials were phase 2 studies evaluating neoadjuvant treatment with ipilimumab and nivolumab in stage III melanoma.

An Overview of Liver Directed Locoregional Therapies.

An overview of all liver-directed locoregional therapies, including surgical resection for melanoma liver metastases (MLMs), is provided. MLM patients are divided by their primary melanoma location; cutaneous, uvea (eye), and mucosal melanoma. If patients with isolated cutaneous MLMs are considered for surgical resection, treatment with systemic therapy should be part of the treatment course.

mRNA-1273 vaccination induces polyfunctional memory CD4 and CD8 T cell responses in patients with solid cancers undergoing immunotherapy or/and chemotherapy.

Introduction: Research has confirmed the safety and comparable seroconversion rates following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with solid cancers. However, the impact of cancer treatment on vaccine-induced T cell responses remains poorly understood.

Methods: In this study, we expand on previous findings within the VOICE trial by evaluating the functional and phenotypic composition of mRNA-1273-induced T cell responses in patients with solid tumors undergoing immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or both, compared to individuals without cancer.

Long-Term Survival in Patients With Advanced Melanoma.

Importance: Long-term survival data from clinical trials show that survival curves of patients with advanced melanoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) gradually reach a plateau, suggesting that patients have a chance of achieving long-term survival.

Objective: To investigate long-term survival in patients with advanced melanoma treated with ICIs outside clinical trials.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Cohort study using prospectively collected data from the nationwide Dutch Melanoma Treatment Registry, including patients in the Netherlands with advanced melanoma treated with first-line ICIs from 2012 to 2019.

Adverse Events in Anti-PD-1-Treated Adjuvant and First-Line Advanced Melanoma Patients.

: The difference in incidence and severity of anti-PD-1 therapy-related adverse events (irAEs) between adjuvant and advanced treated melanoma patients remains unclear, as no head-to-head studies have compared these groups. : This multi-center cohort study analyzed melanoma patients treated with anti-PD-1 in adjuvant or advanced settings between 2015 and 2021. Comorbidities and ECOG performance status were assessed before treatment, and grade III-IV irAEs were monitored during treatment.

Adjuvant treatment with anti-PD-1 in acral melanoma: A nationwide study.

Previous studies demonstrated limited efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in unresectable acral melanoma (AM); it remains unclear how this translates to the adjuvant setting. This study investigates clinical outcomes of acral compared to cutaneous melanoma (CM) patients treated with adjuvant anti-PD-1 after complete resection. All stages III-IV AM and CM patients receiving adjuvant anti-PD-1 after complete resection between 2018 and 2022 were included from the prospective nationwide Dutch Melanoma Treatment Registry.

Corticosteroids and other immunosuppressants for immune-related adverse events and checkpoint inhibitor effectiveness in melanoma.

Background: Recent studies indicate an association between immunosuppression for immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and impaired survival in patients who received immune checkpoint inhibitors. Whether this is related to corticosteroids or second-line immunosuppressants is unknown. In the largest cohort thus far, we assessed the association of immunosuppressant type and dose with survival in melanoma patients with irAEs.

Comprehensive characterization of circulating tumor cells and cell-free DNA in patients with metastatic melanoma.

Advances in therapeutic approaches for melanoma urge the need for biomarkers that can identify patients at risk for recurrence and to guide treatment. The potential use of liquid biopsies in identifying biomarkers is increasingly being recognized. Here, we present a head-to-head comparison of several techniques to analyze circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in 20 patients with metastatic melanoma.

Safe Stop IPI-NIVO trial: early discontinuation of nivolumab upon achieving a complete or partial response in patients with irresectable stage III or metastatic melanoma treated with first-line ipilimumab-nivolumab - study protocol.

Background: Patients with irresectable stage III or metastatic melanoma presenting with poor prognostic factors are usually treated with a combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), consisting of ipilimumab and nivolumab. This combination therapy is associated with severe immune related adverse events (irAEs) in about 60% of patients. In current clinical practice, patients are usually treated with ICIs for up to two years or until disease progression or the occurrence of unacceptable AEs.