Analysis of the impact of body mass index in the treatment of metastatic melanoma with ipilimumab.

Abstract

e21044 Background: Recently observational and retrospective studies have been observing a higher incidence of melanoma among patients with over normal body mass index (BMI), as well as a higher melanoma-specific mortality. However, no study has analyzed the impact of BMI in patients with metastatic melanoma treated with immunotherapy. We aim to evaluate whether BMI could influence the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma receiving Ipilimumab. Methods: Patients diagnosed with metastatic melanoma treated with Ipilimumab at Centro Oncológico Antônio Ermírio de Moraes - Brazil were identified. Patients were stratified according to BMI value at the beginning of Ipilimumab therapy (BMI ≥ 25 and BMI < 25). Progression free survival (PFS) was compared between the groups. Results: We evaluated 187 patients with metastatic melanoma treated with Ipilimumab. About fifty eight percent were male and median age was 58 years (range 27-89). About 88.8% had cutaneous melanoma (42.6% BRAF mutated), 5.3% mucosal melanoma, and 5.9% choroid melanoma. The overall PFS was 3.13 months (95% CI 2.84 – 3.41). Median BMI was 25.8% (range 15.2 - 47.9), and 37.4% of the patients had BMI < 25. The group with BMI ≥ 25 had higher median PFS when compared to those with BMI < 25 (3.5 versus 2.9 months, p = 0.037). In the group of BMI < 25, 16 (22.8%) and 4 (5.7%) patients had PFS > 6 months and 12 months, respectively, versus 35 (30%) and 16 (13.6%) patients in the group of BMI ≥ 25. Conclusions: We have observed a superior PFS on Ipilimumab among overweight patients with metastatic melanoma . Further studies are necessary to confirm whether activity of Ipilimumab is greater among patients with higher BMI.