POLARIS: A phase 2 trial of encorafenib plus binimetinib evaluating high-dose and standard-dose regimens in patients with BRAF V600-mutant melanoma with brain metastasis.

Background: POLARIS (phase 2 [ph2]; NCT03911869) evaluated encorafenib (BRAF inhibitor) in combination with binimetinib (MEK1/2 inhibitor) in BRAF/MEK inhibitor-naïve patients with BRAF V600-mutant melanoma with asymptomatic brain metastases. Methods: The safety lead-in (SLI) assessed tolerability for high-dose encorafenib 300 mg twice daily (BID) plus binimetinib 45 mg BID. If the high dose was tolerable in ph2, patients would be randomized to receive high or standard dose (encorafenib 450 mg once daily [QD] plus binimetinib 45 mg BID). Otherwise, standard dose was evaluated as the recommended ph2 dose (RP2D). Patients who tolerated standard dosing during Cycle 1 could be dose escalated to encorafenib 600 mg QD plus binimetinib 45 mg BID in Cycle 2. Safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics were examined. Results: RP2D was standard encorafenib dosing, as >33% of evaluable SLI patients (3/9) had dose-limiting toxicities. Overall, of 13 safety-evaluable patients (10 SLI, 3 ph2), 9 had prior immunotherapy. There were 9 treatment-related adverse events in the SLI and 3 in ph2. Of the SLI efficacy-evaluable patients (n = 10), 1 achieved complete response and 5 achieved partial responses (PR); the brain metastasis response rate (BMRR) was 60% (95% CI: 26.2, 87.8). In ph2, 2 of 3 patients achieved PR (BMRR, 67% [95% CI: 9.4, 99.2]). Repeated encorafenib 300 mg BID dosing did not increase steady-state exposure compared with historical 450 mg QD data. Conclusions: Despite small patient numbers due to early trial termination, BMRR appeared similar between the SLI and ph2, and the ph2 safety profile appeared consistent with previous reports of standard-dose encorafenib in combination with binimetinib.

Generalized Lymphatic Anomaly as a Differential Diagnosis of Lytic Lesions.

Generalized lymphatic anomaly (GLA) is an infrequent multiorgan disease characterized by the presence of abnormal proliferation of lymphatic vessels. The diagnosis requires histological confirmation, and the treatment is controversial. We are presenting a case of a 28-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with an extragonadal mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumor. He underwent chemotherapy, and during this treatment, radiologic findings evidenced lytic lesions. Multiple biopsies were performed, which revealed the presence of abnormal lymphatic vessels, characteristic of GLA. There are different etiologies of osteolytic lesions, and on some occasions, they mimic a tumoral entity. The clinical suspicion of GLA is the first step in approaching the diagnosis, particularly in young adult patients.

Desmoid tumour in an inguinal hernia in a patient with a previous diagnosis of melanoma.

A 68-year-old man, without a family history of cancer, was treated for primary cutaneous melanoma of the scalp. Two years later, a right lateral cervical lymph recurrence was observed and he was treated with lymphadenectomy and adjuvant nivolumab for 1 year. Four years from the initial melanoma diagnosis, a computer tomography scan showed a solid nodular lesion of 26 × 40 × 75 mm inside the previously known inguinoscrotal hernia. A new recurrence of melanoma was the most probable diagnosis and a right inguinal hernioplasty was performed. Notably, the histopathological examination revealed a mesenteric fibromatosis with the typical immunohistochemical pattern (strong nuclear staining of ß-catenin). Interestingly, this represents the first case of a patient with a mesenteric desmoid tumour presenting as an inguinal hernia masking a cutaneous melanoma recurrence.

Uncommon Subtypes of Malignant Melanomas: A Review Based on Clinical and Molecular Perspectives.

Malignant melanoma represents the most aggressive type of skin cancer. Modern therapies, including targeted agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors, have changed the dismal prognosis that characterized this disease. However, most evidence was obtained by studying patients with frequent subtypes of cutaneous melanoma (CM). Consequently, there is an emerging need to understand the molecular basis and treatment approaches for unusual melanoma subtypes. Even a standardized definition of infrequent or rare melanoma is not clearly established. For that reason, we reviewed this challenging topic considering clinical and molecular perspectives, including uncommon CMs-not associated with classical V600E/K BRAF mutations-malignant mucosal and uveal melanomas, and some unusual independent entities, such as amelanotic, desmoplastic, or spitzoid melanomas. Finally, we collected information regarding melanomas from non-traditional primary sites, which emerge from locations as unique as meninges, dermis, lymph nodes, the esophagus, and breasts. The aim of this review is to summarize and highlight the main scientific evidence regarding rare melanomas, with a particular focus on treatment perspectives.

Cáncer renal. Descripción poblacional en una institución académica / Kidney cancer. Population description in an academic institution

El conocimiento en cáncer renal ha sido manifiesto en la última década, con adelantos que optimizan el abordaje diagnóstico, quirúrgico y terapéutico con agentes dirigidos contra blancos específicos. El objetivo del trabajo fue la evaluación retrospectiva de pacientes con cáncer de riñón, destacando los datos demográficos, patológicos, quirúrgicos, de recurrencia, así como las modalidades terapéuticas empleadas, y describir la evolución clínica a través de parámetros de eficacia y seguridad. Fueron incluidos 417 pacientes, analizándose los datos de 356. La edad mediana fue de 56 años y 68% eran hombres. El 14% presentó otro tumor primario no renal y 14 desarrollaron otro tumor renal. El diagnóstico fue incidental en el 28% de los casos, la histología más frecuente fue el carcinoma de células claras, el tamaño mediano fue 6.1 cm y en el 20% se observó infiltración capsular. De los 298 pacientes operados, 54% fueron a nefrectomía radical y 26% parcial. El 19% presentaba metástasis al diagnóstico. Recurrencia post-operatoria en 75 de los 298 operados. Los tratamientos más frecuentemente utilizados en primera línea fueron los inhibidores de tirosina-quinasa (55% de los casos) con remisiones del 43-50% y un tiempo a la progresión de 12.1 meses. La revisión retrospectiva de los datos en cáncer renal de una población académica que incorpora la metodología diagnóstica, quirúrgica y terapéutica en enfermedad localizada y avanzada, permite reproducir los datos que surgen de países centrales y de estudios clínicos aleatorizados (AU)

Improving knowledge in renal cancer has been successful in the last decade in terms of diagnosis, surgical and therapeutic approach with targeted agents. The objective of the study was the retrospective evaluation of patients with kidney cancer, emphasizing recurrence as well as therapeutic modalities, pathological and surgical, demographic data and to describe outcome through efficacy and safety parameters. There were included 417 patients. The median age was of 56 years and 68% were men. There was a 14% of patients with another non-renal primary tumor and 14 patients developed another kidney tumor. The diagnosis was incidental in 28% of cases. The most common histology was clear cell carcinoma, medium size was 6.1 cm and capsular infiltration was observed in 20%. Of the 298 patients operated, 54% were to radical nephrectomy and 26% partial. The 19% of the patients had metastases from diagnosis. Post-operative recurrence was developed in 75 of 298 surgical patients. The most frequent systemic first line therapy was tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (55% of cases) with remissions of 43-50% and time to progression was 12.1 months. The retrospective review in renal cancer of an academic population gives the rationale of data of the real world and to compare with those that arise from central countries and randomized clinical trials (AU)