ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibition has revolutionized melanoma therapy, but many patients show primary or secondary resistance. Biomarkers are, therefore, urgently required to predict response prior to the initiation of therapy and to monitor disease progression. METHODS: In this prospective study, we analyzed the serum C-C motif chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) concentration using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Blood was obtained at baseline before the initiation of immunotherapy with anti-PD-1 monotherapy or Nivolumab and Ipilimumab in advanced melanoma patients (stages III and IV) enrolled at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. The CCL20 levels were correlated with clinico-pathological parameters and disease-related outcomes. RESULTS: An increased C-C motif chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) concentration (≥0.34 pg/mL) at baseline was associated with a significantly impaired progression-free survival (PFS) in the high-CCL20 group (3 months (95% CI: 2-6 months) vs. 11 months (95% CI: 6-26 months)) (p = 0.0033) and could be identified as an independent negative prognostic factor for PFS in univariate (Hazard Ratio (HR): 1.98, 95% CI 1.25-3.12, p = 0.004) and multivariate (HR: 1.99, 95% CI 1.21-3.29, p = 0.007) Cox regression analysis, which was associated with a higher risk than S100 (HR: 1.74). Moreover, high CCL20 levels were associated with impaired overall survival (median OS not reached for low-CCL20 group, p = 0.042) with an HR of 1.85 (95% CI 1.02-3.37, p = 0.043) in univariate analysis similar to the established prognostic marker S100 (HR: 1.99, 95% CI: 1.02-3.88, p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: CCL20 may represent a novel blood-based biomarker for the prediction of resistance to immunotherapy that can be used in combination with established strong clinical predictors (e.g., ECOG performance score) and laboratory markers (e.g., S100) in advanced melanoma patients. Future prospective randomized trials are needed to establish CCL20 as a liquid biopsy-based biomarker in advanced melanoma.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: An increased incidence of thrombotic complications associated with an increased mortality rate has been observed under immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI). Recent investigations on the coagulation pathways have highlighted the direct role of key coagulatory proteins and platelets in cancer initiation, angiogenesis and progression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and its regulatory enzyme a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 (ADAMTS13), D-dimers and platelets in a cohort of patients with metastatic melanoma receiving ICI. METHODS: In a prospective cohort of 83 patients with metastatic melanoma, we measured the systemic levels of vWF-antigen (vWF:Ag), ADAMTS13 activity, D-dimers and platelets, before the beginning of the treatment (baseline), and 6, 12 and 24 weeks after. In parallel, we collected standard biological parameters used in clinical routine to monitor melanoma response (lactate deshydrogenase (LDH), S100). The impact of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) on overall survival (OS) in patients receiving ICI was assessed. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional models were then used to investigate any potential association of these parameters to clinical progression (progression-free survival (PFS) and OS). Baseline values and variations over therapy course were compared between primary responders and resistant patients. RESULTS: Patients with melanoma present with dysregulated levels of vWF:Ag, ADAMTS13 activity, D-dimers, LDH, S100 and CRP at the beginning of treatment. With a median clinical follow-up of 26 months, vWF:Ag interrogated as a continuous variable was significantly associated with PFS in univariate and multivariate analysis (HR=1.04; p=0.007). Lower values of vWF:Ag at baseline were observed in the primary responders group (median: 29.4 µg/mL vs 32.9 µg/mL; p=0.048) when compared with primary resistant patients. As for OS, we found an association with D-dimers and ADAMTS13 activity in univariate analysis and vWF:Ag in univariate and multivariate analysis including v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) mutation and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status. Follow-up over the course of treatment depicts different evolution profiles for vWF:Ag between the primary response and resistance groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective cohort, coagulatory parameters such as ADAMTS13 activity and D-dimers are associated with OS but baseline vWF:Ag levels appeared as the only parameter associated with response and OS to ICI. This highlights a potential role of vWF as a biomarker to monitor ICI response of patients with malignant melanoma.
