Unresectable Melanoma Research Articles

The efficacy and safety assessment of oncolytic virotherapies in the treatment of advanced melanoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundThe efficacy and safety of oncolytic virotherapies in the treatment of advanced melanoma still remains controversal. It is necessary to conduct quantitative evaluation on the basis of preclinical trial reports.MethodsPublicly available databases (PubMed, Embase, Medline, Web of Science and Cochrane Library.) and register (Clinicaltrials.gov) were searched to collect treatment outcomes of oncolytic virotherapies (including herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV), coxsackievirus A21 (CVA21), adenovirus, poxvirus and reovirus) for advanced/unresectable melanoma. Comparisons of treatment response, adverse events (AEs) and survival analyses for different virotherapies were performed by R software based on the extracted data from eligible studies.ResultsFinally, thirty-four eligible studies were analysed and HSV virotherapy had the highest average complete response (CR, 24.8%) and HSV had a slightly higher average overall response rate (ORR) than CVA21 (43.8% vs 42.6%). In the pooled results of comparing talimogene laherparepve (T-VEC) with or without GM-CSF/ICIs (immune checkpoint inhibitors) to GM-CSF/ICIs monotherapy suggested virotherapy was more efficient in subgroups CR (RR = 1.80, 95% CI [1.30; 2.51], P < 0.01), ORR (RR = 1.17, 95% CI [1.02; 1.34], P < 0.05), and DCR (RR = 1.27, 95% CI [1.15; 1.40], P < 0.01). In patients treated with T-VEC+ICIs, 2-year overall survival (12.1 ± 6.9 months) and progression-free survival (9.9 ± 6.9) were significantly longer than those treated with T-VEC alone. Furthermore, we found that AEs occurred frequently in virotherapy but decreased in a large cohort of enrolled patients, some of which, such as abdominal distension/pain, injection site pain and pruritus, were found to be positively associated with disease progression in patients treated with T-VEC monotherapy.ConclusionGiven the relative safety and tolerability of oncolytic viruses, and the lack of reports of dose-limiting-dependent toxicities, more patients treated with T-VEC with or without ICIs should be added to future assessment analyses. There is still a long way to go before it can be used as a first-line therapy for patients with advanced or unresectable melanoma.

Nivolumab/Relatlimab-rmbw: A Novel Dual Combination Therapy to Treat Adult and Pediatric Patients With Unresectable or Metastatic Melanoma.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors control effector mechanisms and work to restore downregulated T-cells in patients with melanoma. Examples of such include programmed death-1 inhibitors and lymphocyte-activating gene 3 inhibitors. The combination of nivolumab, a programmed death-1 inhibitor, and relatlimab-rmbw, a lymphocyte-activating gene 3 inhibitor, has shown antitumor activity and improved progression-free survival in patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma. The fixed-dose combination of nivolumab and relatlimab immunotherapy is approved for adults and pediatrics 12 years of age or older with metastatic or unresectable melanoma. Volume of distribution is 6.6 L for relatlimab and nivolumab, and half-life is 27 and 26 days, respectively. Clearance at steady state is 7.6 mL/h for nivolumab and 5.5 mL/h for relatlimab. Sex, age, race, and mild hepatic/renal impairment had no clinical effect on clearance. The exposure-response relationship and pharmacodynamic response for the safety and effectiveness of nivolumab/relatlimab-rmbw have not been fully characterized. Safety concerns include severe and fatal immune-mediated adverse reactions, infusion-related reactions, and complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and fetal toxicity. Dosing is determined by patient's age and weight. Solution is infused over a 30-minute timeframe. In the RELATIVITY-047 trial, patients received nivolumab or nivolumab/relatlimab-rmbw. Results showed superiority of dual therapy over monotherapy with a progression-free survival of 10.1 months (95% CI, 6.4-15.7) compared with 4.6 months (95% CI, 3.4-5.6) and hazard ratio of 0.75 (95% CI, 0.62-0.92); P = 0.006, respectively. No safety concerns were observed compared with monotherapy with treatment-related adverse events occurring in 18.9% of patients on combination therapy compared with 9.7% on nivolumab alone. The novel mechanism and improvement in progression-free survival compared with standard of care highlight the therapeutic advancement of nivolumab/relatlimab-rmbw in the treatment of unresectable and metastatic melanoma.

Addressing barriers in care management, shared decision-making alignment, and educational needs on novel immunotherapy combinations in melanoma.

309 Background: Immunotherapy is being used increasingly to treat patients with locally-advanced unresectable or metastatic melanoma. To optimize patient care, members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team and their patients need up-to-date information about the latest therapies and the myriad factors that can influence outcomes. To assess patient-clinician alignment on perceptions of care, an educational initiative was designed for clinicians and patients/caregivers. Methods: A patient/caregiver educational activity was held in January 2023 in partnership with the Melanoma Research Foundation and remains on-demand at CancerCoachLive.com. An accredited clinician activity was held in February 2023 in collaboration with Partners for Advancing Clinical Education and remains on-demand at OMedLive.com. The Melanoma Action Coalition collaborated on both the patient and clinician activities. Behavioral assessment of preferences, attitudes, and barriers toward managing patients with melanoma were examined throughout the CME and patient/caregiver program. Data from these sessions were analyzed to determine behavioral and/or practice impact. Outcomes from the patient program were analyzed and provided as a supplemental resource for participants in the CME activity. Results: To date, 456 patients and 2,797 clinicians have participated in the educational initiative. Of the patient-reported experiences and preferences: 43% indicated they are under the care of a multidisciplinary team and only 42% were very satisfied with their current treatment regimen. The top two identified barriers in managing melanoma were anxiety about treatment efficacy (33%) and participating in normal activities (25%); these barriers were not aligned with those identified by clinicians. Upon evaluation of confidence in treatment decision-making; 70% of patients were not confident collaborating with their team while 74% of clinicians indicated low confidence in shared decision-making with their patients. At baseline, there was low awareness of safety and efficacy data regarding novel immunotherapy combinations and only 50% were likely to consider administering novel combinations to patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic melanoma. Clinicians additionally provided insight into barriers to patient enrollment in clinical trials with lack of trials at their institution being the greatest barrier (56%). Conclusions: Patient and clinician assessments provided an opportunity to determine misalignments in perceptions of barriers and insights into patient care experiences as well as clinician education needs. As novel immunotherapy combinations continue to become available for patients with unresectable melanoma, it is important to increase awareness of the clinical data and foster practical strategies to improve patient-centered care.

The role of diabetes in metastatic melanoma patients treated with nivolumab plus relatlimab

BackgroundThe combination of nivolumab + relatlimab is superior to nivolumab alone in the treatment of naive patients and has activity in PD-1 refractory melanoma. We had previously observed a reduced expression of LAG3 in melanoma tissue from patients with type 2 diabetes.MethodTo evaluate the impact of diabetes on oncological outcomes of patients with advanced melanoma treated with nivolumab plus the LAG3 inhibitor relatlimab we performed a retrospective multicenter study.ResultsOverall, 129 patients were included: 88 without diabetes before the treatment, 37 who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes before the start of treatment, and 4 without diabetes before treatment who developed immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced diabetes (ICI-DM). PFS was 21.71 months (95% CI: 15.61–27.81) in patients without diabetes, 10.23 months (95% CI: 5.81–14.66) in patients with type 2 diabetes, and 50.85 months (95% CI: 23.04–78.65) in patients who developed ICI-DM. OS was 37.94 months (95% CI: 31.02–44.85) in patients without diabetes, 22.12 months (95% CI: 14.41–29.85) in those with type 2 diabetes and 57.64 months (95% CI: 42.29–72.99) in those who developed ICI-DM. Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of diabetes and LDH was correlated with OS and PFS. The mean OS was 64.63 months in subjects with low levels of glucose (< 137 mg/dl) and 36.27 months in those with high levels (hazard ratio 0.16, 95% CI: 0.04–0.58; p = 0.005). The patients whose glucose blood level increased after 3 months of treatment with nivolumab + relatinib compared to baseline (ratio of blood level at baseline/after 3 months > 1.5) had a worse prognosis than those whose glucose level had not increased. This result was observed also in subgroups treated either in first line or further lines. Patients who developed ICI-DM during the study period had better outcomes than the overall population and patients without diabetes.ConclusionsLAG3 inhibition for treating metastatic or unresectable melanoma has a reduced efficacy in patients with type 2 diabetes, possibly due to a low expression of LAG3 in tumor tissue. Higher level evidence should be obtained.

Three-Year Overall Survival with Tebentafusp in Metastatic Uveal Melanoma

BackgroundTebentafusp, a T-cell receptor–bispecific molecule that targets glycoprotein 100 and CD3, is approved for adult patients who are positive for HLA-A*02:01 and have unresectable or metastatic uveal melanoma. The primary analysis in the present phase 3 trial supported a long-term survival benefit associated with the drug.MethodsWe report the 3-year efficacy and safety results from our open-label, phase 3 trial in which HLA-A*02:01–positive patients with previously untreated metastatic uveal melanoma were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive tebentafusp (tebentafusp group) or the investigator’s choice of therapy with pembrolizumab, ipilimumab, or dacarbazine (control group), with randomization stratified according to the lactate dehydrogenase level. The primary end point was overall survival.ResultsAt a minimum follow-up of 36 months, median overall survival was 21.6 months in the tebentafusp group and 16.9 months in the control group (hazard ratio for death, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.54 to 0.87). The estimated percentage of patients surviving at 3 years was 27% in the tebentafusp group and 18% in the control group. The most common treatment-related adverse events of any grade in the tebentafusp group were rash (83%), pyrexia (76%), pruritus (70%), and hypotension (38%). Most tebentafusp-related adverse events occurred early during treatment, and no new adverse events were observed with long-term administration. The percentage of patients who discontinued treatment because of adverse events continued to be low in both treatment groups (2% in the tebentafusp group and 5% in the control group). No treatment-related deaths occurred.ConclusionsThis 3-year analysis supported a continued long-term benefit of tebentafusp for overall survival among adult HLA-A*02:01–positive patients with previously untreated metastatic uveal melanoma. (Funded by Immunocore; IMCgp100-202 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03070392; EudraCT number, 2015-003153-18.)

1103P Nivolumab (NIVO) plus relatlimab (RELA) vs NIVO in previously untreated metastatic or unresectable melanoma: 2-year subgroup analyses from RELATIVITY-047

1103P Nivolumab (NIVO) plus relatlimab (RELA) vs NIVO in previously untreated metastatic or unresectable melanoma: 2-year subgroup analyses from RELATIVITY-047

1108P Outcomes of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma after cessation of immunotherapy following complete response or toxicities

1108P Outcomes of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma after cessation of immunotherapy following complete response or toxicities

1114P Encorafenib (E) plus binimetinib (B) in unresectable advanced or metastatic BRAFV600-mut melanoma, real-world evidence in Spain (GEM 2002 - BECARE)

1114P Encorafenib (E) plus binimetinib (B) in unresectable advanced or metastatic BRAFV600-mut melanoma, real-world evidence in Spain (GEM 2002 - BECARE)

A phase I, single-center, open-label study to investigate the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of encorafenib following a single oral dose of 100 mg [14 C] encorafenib in healthy male subjects.

Encorafenib is a novel kinase inhibitor of BRAF V600E as well as wild-type BRAF and CRAF and has received approval, in combination with binimetinib, to treat BRAF V600E or V600K mutation-positive unresectable or metastatic melanoma or in combination with cetuximab to treat BRAF V600E mutation-positive colorectal cancer. The absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) of encorafenib was studied by administering [14 C] encorafenib (100 mg containing 90 μCi of radiolabeled material) to 4 healthy male subjects (NCT01436656). Following a single oral 100-mg dose of [14 C] encorafenib to healthy male subjects, the overall recovery of radioactivity in the excreta was ≥93.9% in all four subjects, indicating that good mass balance was achieved. An equal mean of 47.2% for the radioactivity dose was eliminated in the feces and urine. The percentage of the dose eliminated in the feces (5.0%) and urine (1.8%) as unchanged encorafenib was minor. Metabolism was found to be the major clearance pathway (~88% of the recovered radioactive dose) for encorafenib in humans and is predominantly mediated through N-dealkylation of the isopropyl carbamic acid methyl ester to form the primary phase 1 direct metabolite M42.5 (LHY746). Oral absorption was estimated from the radioactive dose recovered in the urine (47.2%) and the total radioactive dose recovered in the feces as metabolites (39%). Based on these values and the assumptions that encorafenib and its metabolites are stable in feces, the fraction of oral absorption was estimated to be at least ~86%.

Review of pharmacoeconomic studies of melanoma treatment for the period 2018–2023

When analyzing pharmacoeconomic studies of the skin melanoma treatment conducted in various countries, the combinations of vemurafenib + cobimetinib and encorafenib + binimetinib are the most acceptable therapy options in terms of increasing life expectancy with adjustments for quality, but, according to the clinical guidelines of the National Joint Oncology Network (NCCN), USA, version 2.2023 – “Melanoma: Cutaneous”, not for adjuvant therapy. At the same time, social networks can be a valuable asset of information about patient’s quality of the life. For the patients with advanced melanoma with a BRAF mutation, the combination of atezolizumab + vemurafenib + cobimetinib indicated the highest clinical effectiveness and can be recommended for pharmacotherapy under condition of drug price reduction.Comparison various drugs combinations with monotherapy for patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a positive BRAF V600 mutation indicated that nivolumab + ipilimumab therapy is not cost-effective in comparison with nivolumab monotherapy, but combination of dabrafenib + trametinib, on the contrary, increases the patient's life expectancy compared to vemurafenib and it’s more cost-effective. It was shown that Pembrolizumab to increase life expectancy but it’s associated with increased costs compared to ipilimumab when comparing different monotherapy options. The assumed additional cost-effectiveness factor is acceptable for most European countries, because it does not exceed the “willingness to pay” threshold. It is necessary to conduct large-scale pharma-economic studies in order to identify the most cost-effective treatment for Russia for various variants of the course of melanoma, both of various combined regimens with each other, and their comparison with monotherapy. It is important to take into account also the costs of correcting undesirable adverse drug reactions, since they have a significant impact to the structure of direct costs. The development of innovative drugs for the treatment of melanoma is proceeding rapidly, however, access to these drugs is limited due to their high cost. Patient-centred drug development and reimbursement options need to be found.

Guadecitabine plus ipilimumab in unresectable melanoma: five-year follow-up and integrated multi-omic analysis in the phase 1b NIBIT-M4 trial

Association with hypomethylating agents is a promising strategy to improve the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors-based therapy. The NIBIT-M4 was a phase Ib, dose-escalation trial in patients with advanced melanoma of the hypomethylating agent guadecitabine combined with the anti-CTLA-4 antibody ipilimumab that followed a traditional 3 + 3 design (NCT02608437). Patients received guadecitabine 30, 45 or 60 mg/m2/day subcutaneously on days 1 to 5 every 3 weeks starting on week 0 for a total of four cycles, and ipilimumab 3 mg/kg intravenously starting on day 1 of week 1 every 3 weeks for a total of four cycles. Primary outcomes of safety, tolerability, and maximum tolerated dose of treatment were previously reported. Here we report the 5-year clinical outcome for the secondary endpoints of overall survival, progression free survival, and duration of response, and an exploratory integrated multi-omics analysis on pre- and on-treatment tumor biopsies. With a minimum follow-up of 45 months, the 5-year overall survival rate was 28.9% and the median duration of response was 20.6 months. Re-expression of immuno-modulatory endogenous retroviruses and of other repetitive elements, and a mechanistic signature of guadecitabine are associated with response. Integration of a genetic immunoediting index with an adaptive immunity signature stratifies patients/lesions into four distinct subsets and discriminates 5-year overall survival and progression free survival. These results suggest that coupling genetic immunoediting with activation of adaptive immunity is a relevant requisite for achieving long term clinical benefit by epigenetic immunomodulation in advanced melanoma patients.

Immunotherapy in Melanoma: Recent Advancements and Future Directions.

Immune checkpoint inhibition has fundamentally altered the treatment paradigm of resectable and unresectable melanoma, resulting in dramatic improvements in patient outcomes. With these advances, the five-year overall survival in patients with newly diagnosed unresectable disease has eclipsed 50%. Ongoing research is focused on improving outcomes further, with a considerable emphasis on preventing de novo and acquired resistance and personalizing therapeutic options. Here, we review the ongoing advancements in the treatment of malignant melanoma, focusing on novel combination strategies that aim to build upon the successes of the last decade.

Primary tumour category, site of metastasis, and baseline serum S100B and LDH are independent prognostic factors for survival in metastatic melanoma patients treated with anti-PD-1.

Prognostic classification of metastatic melanoma patients treated with anti-PD-1 is of great interest to clinicians. We aimed to determine the anti-PD-1 treatment related prognostic performance of demographics, clinical and histological prognostic markers and baseline serum S100B and LDH levels in advanced melanoma. A total of 200 patients with unresectable metastatic melanoma were included in this retrospective study. 34.5% had stage M1c disease and 11.5% had stage M1d disease at the start of therapy. 30% had pT4b primary melanoma. 55.5% had elevated baseline serum S100B levels and 62.5% had elevated baseline serum LDH levels. We analysed the risk of death using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional-hazards models and the median overall (OS) and progression-free (PFS) survival using the Kaplan-Meier estimator. The median follow-up time from the start of anti-PD-1 treatment in patients who were alive at the end of the study (N=81) was 37 months (range: 6.1-95.9). The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that M1c stage (vs. M1a, p=0.005) or M1d stage at the start of therapy (vs. M1a, p=0.001), pT4b category (vs. pT1a, p=0.036), elevated baseline serum S100B levels (vs. normal S100B, p=0.008) and elevated LDH levels (vs. normal LDH, p=0.049) were independently associated with poor survival. The combination of M1d stage, elevated baseline serum S100B and LDH levels and pT4b category was associated with a very high risk of death (HR 4.72 [1.81; 12.33]). In the subgroup of patients with pT4b primary melanoma, the median OS of patients with normal serum S100B levels was 37.25 months [95% CI 11.04; 63.46]), while the median OS of patients with elevated serum S100B levels was 8.00 months [95% CI 3.49; 12.51]) (p<0.001); the median OS of patients with normal serum LDH levels was 41.82 months [95% CI 11.33; 72.32]), while the median OS of patients with elevated serum LDH levels was 12.29 months [95% CI 4.35; 20.23]) (p=0.002). Our real-world study indicates that the prognostic role of primary melanoma parameters is preserved in anti-PD-1 treated stage IV patients. Furthermore, there seems to be perspective in combining clinical, histological and serum prognostic markers in a prognostic model.

Definitive treatment with PD-1 blockade and radiation therapy of unresected primary desmoplastic melanoma of the nose.

Two patients with primary desmoplastic melanoma of the nose were treated with definitive anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor (anti-PD1) and radiation therapy. Both patients were technically resectable with partial rhinectomy but both declined for cosmetic reasons. The melanoma multidisciplinary team recommended that the patients receive PD1 blockade. The initial response to PD-1 blockade was temporary in the first case and partial in the second one. With the addition of high-dose radiotherapy, complete responses were obtained in both patients, with recurrence-free and good functional and cosmetic outcomes at a six-year and 22-month follow-up. Despite surgery being the gold standard, both cases illustrated that PD-1 blockade and radiation therapy can be a safe alternative option for desmoplastic melanoma where surgery is morbidly disfiguring.

Treatment experience with encorafenib plus binimetinib for BRAF V600-mutant metastatic melanoma: management insights for clinical practice.

For patients with locally advanced or metastatic melanoma who have BRAF V600 activating mutations, combination therapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors is now the standard of care. The combination of encorafenib, a highly selective adenosine triphosphate-competitive BRAF inhibitor, plus binimetinib, a potent, selective, allosteric, non-adenosine triphosphate-competitive MEK1/2 inhibitor, was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for unresectable or metastatic melanoma with BRAF V600E or V600K mutations based on data from the phase III COLUMBUS study (NCT01909453). Clinical data evaluating BRAF and MEK inhibitor combinations in advanced melanoma indicate a specific profile of adverse events that includes serious retinopathy, skin disorders, and cardiovascular toxicities. Here we provide an overview of the rationale for combining BRAF and MEK inhibitors for the treatment of melanoma, long-term safety results from COLUMBUS, and guidance on managing the most common adverse events associated with this combination based on clinical experience. Proactive and appropriate management of adverse events can allow for longer treatment durations and may result in better treatment outcomes.

Cost-effectiveness of encorafenib with binimetinib in unresectable or metastatic BRAF-mutant melanoma.

The objective of this study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of encorafenib with binimetinib (EncoBini) as compared to other targeted double combination therapies, namely dabrafenib with trametinib (DabraTrame) and vemurafenib with cobimetinib (VemuCobi), for the treatment of BRAF V600-mutant unresectable or metastatic melanoma (MM) from the French payer perspective. A partitioned survival model was developed considering a lifetime horizon. The model structure simulated the clinical pathway of patients with BRAF V600-mutant MM. Clinical effectiveness and safety inputs were sourced from the COLUMBUS trial, a network meta-analysis and published literature. Costs, resource use, and the quality of life inputs were obtained from the literature and appropriate French sources. Over a lifetime horizon, EncoBini was associated, on average, with reduced costs and increased quality adjusted life years (QALYs), dominating both targeted double combination therapies. For a willingness-to-pay threshold of €90,000 per QALY, the probability of EncoBini being cost-effective against either comparator remained above 80%. The most influential model parameters were the hazard ratios for the overall survival of EncoBini vs DabraTrame and VemuCobi, the pre- and post-progression utility values, as well as treatment dosages and the relative dose intensity of all interventions. EncoBini is associated with reduced costs and increased QALYs, dominating other targeted double combination therapies (DabraTrame, VemuCobi) for patients with BRAF V600-mutant MM in France. EncoBini is a highly cost-effective intervention in MM.

Postmarketing surveillance of nivolumab plus ipilimumab combination therapy in Japanese patients with unresectable malignant melanoma.

Although malignant melanoma is relatively rare in Japan, it is often diagnosed at a later stage than in Western countries. Nivolumab and ipilimumab are immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed death 1 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4, respectively. Owing to their complementary anticancer effects, nivolumab and ipilimumab combination therapy (N + I) has been studied and approved for treating malignant melanoma in various countries including Japan. Real-world postmarketing surveillance was implemented to record treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) in patients treated with N + I following its approval in Japan. Patients were eligible for registration if they had unresectable malignant melanoma and started N + I between September 2018 and August 2019. The observation period was 13 weeks from starting N + I. Only safety information was collected and evaluated. The final case report form lock was March 2021. Overall, 173 patients (median age, 66.0 years; performance status 0-1, 88.4%; skin: 53.2%; mucosal: 32.4%) were eligible for the analyses. Overall, 34.1% of patients completed 4 doses of N + I. N + I was discontinued by 63.0% (due to adverse events in 67.9% and disease progression/death in 22.9%). Any grade and grade ≥3 TRAEs were reported in 73.41% and 52.02%, respectively. TRAEs in ≥10 patients were hepatic function abnormal (any grade/grade ≥3: 23.12%/13.29%), pyrexia (10.40%/0.58%), diarrhea (9.25%/2.89%), rash (8.67%/0.58%), hypophysitis (5.78%/5.20%), interstitial lung disease (5.78%/2.89%), and liver disorder (5.78%/4.62%). TRAEs were classified as recovered (36.99% of patients), recovering (44.51%), unrecovered (13.29%), recovered with sequelae (2.31%), and death (1.73%). Overall, 24 of 34 patients (70.59%) with gastrointestinal-related and 53 of 65 (81.54%) liver-related TRAEs received treatment, such as a steroid with/without an immunosuppressant; most patients recovered within 1 to 2 months. In conclusion, this postmarketing surveillance of N + I in patients with unresectable malignant melanoma revealed no new safety concerns compared with results of prior studies. Immune-related TRAEs were generally manageable by appropriate treatment including a steroid.

Fc-competent multispecific PDL-1/TIGIT/LAG-3 antibodies potentiate superior anti-tumor T cell response

The landscape of current cancer immunotherapy is dominated by antibodies targeting PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 that have transformed cancer therapy, yet their efficacy is limited by primary and acquired resistance. The blockade of additional immune checkpoints, especially TIGIT and LAG-3, has been extensively explored, but so far only a LAG-3 antibody has been approved for combination with nivolumab to treat unresectable or metastatic melanoma. Here we report the development of a PDL1 × TIGIT bi-specific antibody (bsAb) GB265, a PDL1 × LAG3 bsAb GB266, and a PDL1 × TIGIT × LAG3 tri-specific antibody (tsAb) GB266T, all with intact Fc function. In in vitro cell-based assays, these antibodies promote greater T cell expansion and tumor cell killing than benchmark antibodies and antibody combinations in an Fc-dependent manner, likely by facilitating T cell interactions (bridging) with cancer cells and monocytes, in addition to blocking immune checkpoints. In animal models, GB265 and GB266T antibodies outperformed benchmarks in tumor suppression. This study demonstrates the potential of a new generation of multispecific checkpoint inhibitors to overcome resistance to current monospecific checkpoint antibodies or their combinations for the treatment of human cancers.

Повторное применение ингибиторов контрольных точек иммунного ответа у пациентов с метастатической меланомой кожи: обзор литературы и клинический пример

The prognosis of patients with metastatic and/or unresectable melanoma has changed dramatically over the past decade. When using modern medications (immune checkpoint inhibitors and BRAF/MEK inhibitors), more than 50% of patients survive 6.5 years. The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (anti-PD-1 monotherapy) as the first line of therapy reduces the risk of progression or death by 60% (5-year progression-free survival in the nivolumab group was 28%, and in the dacarbazine group 3%, OR 0.4, 95% CI: 0.33–0.54; p = 0.0001) in the CheckMate 066 study. Despite the high results of anti-PD-1 monotherapy and overall survival, approximately 15–20% of patients with a complete response to aPD1 monotherapy and up to 35–40% of patients with a partial response to aPD1 monotherapy developed disease progression after 3–7 years. If there is an activating mutation in the BRAF gene, patients can be prescribed effective therapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors, which will support at least half of them for at least 12 months. In another part of patients, immunotherapy may be interrupted at an earlier date (usually even before the antitumor effect is assessed) due to the development of adverse events. And such patients can also benefit from combined targeted therapy and in about half of the cases, in the same time frame (about 12 months), they will again find themselves in the situation of choosing the next line of therapy.

Повторное применение ингибиторов BRAF и MEK у пациентов с метастатической меланомой кожи с мутацией в гене BRAF

In this paper we review the existing data and our clinical experience of repeated use of combination therapy with BRAF/MEK inhibitors (BRAFi/MEKi) in the treatment of patients with BRAF-mutated metastatic melanoma of the skin. Recent advances in medical oncology significantly increased the life expectancy of patients with metastatic and/or unresectable melanoma of the skin. However, some patients develop resistance to therapy. Retreatment after interruption or "intermediate" therapy may be of clinical benefit. Contemporary drug therapy becomes more available and there are fewer challenges to chose the first and second line therapy for patients with metastatic and/or unresectable melanoma, but there are still questions on subsequent treatment options when BRAFi/MEKi therapy had been used after the disease progression following the initial objective response. In this article, we review the definitions of “retreatment” or “rechallenge”, give the overview of the literature data, and present our clinical experience