1. Features and Long-Term Outcomes of Stage IV Melanoma Patients Achieving Complete Response Under Anti-PD-1-Based Immunotherapy.
- Author
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Chatziioannou E, Leiter U, Thomas I, Keim U, Seeber O, Meiwes A, Boessenecker I, Gonzalez SS, Torres FM, Niessner H, Sinnberg T, Forschner A, Flatz L, and Amaral T
- Subjects
- Humans, Aged, Prognosis, Remission Induction, Progression-Free Survival, Immunotherapy, Retrospective Studies, Melanoma
- Abstract
Background: Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) has changed the melanoma treatment spectrum. Few studies have examined the characteristics and long-term outcomes of patients achieving complete response (CR) under ICI., Materials and Methods: We evaluated patients with unresectable stage IV melanoma treated with first-line ICI. The characteristics of those achieving CR were compared with those not achieving CR. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed. Late-onset toxicities, response to second-line treatment, the prognostic value of clinicopathologic features, and blood markers were examined., Results: A total of 265 patients were included; 41 (15.5%) achieved CR, while 224 (84.5%) had progressive disease, stable disease, or partial response. At the therapy start, those who had CR were more likely to be older than 65 years of age (p = 0.013), have a platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio below 213 (p = 0.036), and have lower lactate dehydrogenase levels (p = 0.008) than those not achieving a CR. For those who discontinued therapy after CR, the median follow-up time after CR was 56 months (interquartile range [IQR] 52-58) and the median time from CR to therapy end was 10 months (IQR 1-17). Five-year PFS after CR was 79% and 5-year OS was 83%. Most complete responders had a normalization of S100 at the time of CR (p < 0.001). In simple Cox regression analysis, age below 77 years at CR (p = 0.04) was associated with better prognosis after CR. Eight patients received second-line ICI; disease control was seen in 63%. Late immune-related toxicities occurred in 25% of patients, most being cutaneous immune-related toxicities., Conclusions: Response, according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria, is, until now, the most important prognostic factor, and CR is a valid surrogate marker for long-term survival in patients treated with ICI. Our results highlight the importance of investigating the optimal therapy duration in complete responders., (© 2023. The Author(s).)
- Published
- 2023
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