Julia Thierauf1, Johannes A Veit1, Jochen Hess2, Nicolai Treiber3, Catharina Lisson4, Stephanie E Weissinger5, Martin Bommer6, Thomas K Hoffmann1. 1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Ulm, Frauensteige 12, 89075 Ulm, Germany. 2. Research Group Molecular Mechanisms of Head and Neck Tumors, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69121 Heidelberg, Germany, Section Experimental and Translational Head and Neck Oncology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. 3. Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Germany. 4. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081, Ulm Germany. 5. Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081, Ulm Germany. 6. Institute of Hematology, Oncology and infectious diseases, Alb-Fils-Kliniken, Göppingen, Eichertstrasse 3, 73035 Göppingen, Germany.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Whereas anti-PD-1 therapy has demonstrated a significant and durable response against advanced cutaneous melanoma, conventional chemotherapies have shown only minor benefit against advanced mucosal melanoma. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy in a small cohort of patients with mucosal melanoma of the head and neck. MATERIALS & METHODS: We analysed five patients with mucosal melanoma of the head and neck who received nivolumab or pembrolizumab, at an advanced stage. Expression of PD-L1 and PD-1 in all tumour samples was evaluated immunohistochemically. RESULTS: All patients received at least two cycles of nivolumab or pembrolizumab. The most severe adverse events were categorised as CTCAE (common terminology criteria for adverse events) Grade 2. All patients showed progressive disease after restaging at three and six months, and no partial or complete response was observed. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated PD-L1 expression in less than 5% of tumour cells. CONCLUSION: Systemic therapy with either nivolumab or pembrolizumab showed no clinical response, however, tumour progression was identified in all patients using Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1 and immune-related response criteria (irRC) to evaluate tumour response.
BACKGROUND: Whereas anti-PD-1 therapy has demonstrated a significant and durable response against advanced cutaneous melanoma, conventional chemotherapies have shown only minor benefit against advanced mucosal melanoma. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy in a small cohort of patients with mucosal melanoma of the head and neck. MATERIALS & METHODS: We analysed five patients with mucosal melanoma of the head and neck who received nivolumab or pembrolizumab, at an advanced stage. Expression of PD-L1 and PD-1 in all tumour samples was evaluated immunohistochemically. RESULTS: All patients received at least two cycles of nivolumab or pembrolizumab. The most severe adverse events were categorised as CTCAE (common terminology criteria for adverse events) Grade 2. All patients showed progressive disease after restaging at three and six months, and no partial or complete response was observed. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated PD-L1 expression in less than 5% of tumour cells. CONCLUSION: Systemic therapy with either nivolumab or pembrolizumab showed no clinical response, however, tumour progression was identified in all patients using Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1 and immune-related response criteria (irRC) to evaluate tumour response.
Entities:
Keywords:
PD-1; anti-PD-1; head and neck; mucosal melanoma; nivolumab; pembrolizumab
Authors: Jinfeng Cao; Niels J Brouwer; Kate E Richards; Marina Marinkovic; Sjoerd van Duinen; Daan Hurkmans; Els M E Verdegaal; Ekaterina S Jordanova; Martine J Jager Journal: Oncotarget Date: 2017-05-20