Surgical treatment of stage IV melanoma

Management of intracranial melanomas in the era of precision medicine

Melanoma is the most lethal of skin cancers, in part because of its proclivity for rapid and distant metastasis. It is also potentially the most neurotropic cancer in terms of probability of CNS metastasis from the primary lesion. Despite surgical resection and radiotherapy, prognosis remains guarded for patients with brain metastases. Over the past five years, a new domain of personalized therapy has emerged for advanced melanoma patients with the introduction of BRAF and other MAP kinase pathway inhibitors, immunotherapy, and combinatory therapeutic strategies. By targeting critical cellular signaling pathways and unleashing the adaptive immune response against tumor antigens, a subset of melanoma patients have demonstrated remarkable responses to these treatments. Over time, acquired resistance to these modalities inexorably develops, providing new challenges to overcome. We review the rapidly evolving terrain for intracranial melanoma treatment, address likely and potential mechanisms of resistance, as well as evaluate promising future therapeutic approaches currently under clinical investigation.

[Recurrence of malignant achromic melanoma of the nail: report of a case]

Le mélanome malin unguéal représente 1,8 à 8,1% des mélanomes malins cutanés. Sa prise en charge s'adresse aujourd'hui aux praticiens de différentes spécialités. L'acte chirurgical initial est une étape incontournable du traitement curatif. La biopsie de la lésion doit être complète, afin de déterminer de façon exacte la profondeur de l'envahissement en cas de malignité. Nous rapportons un cas de mélanome malin achromique à localisation unguéal chez une femme. La chirurgie initiale consistait en une amputation transphalangienne proximale. L’évolution après deux ans était marquée par une récidive avec extension vers le carpe. Ayant subie une reprise chirurgicale avec une exérèse large. Le traitement des récidives est palliatif et vise à apporter un confort de vie au patient. Le principe du traitement fait appel à l'exérèse chirurgicale des lésions. Des alternatives thérapeutiques sont à l’étude.

Optimal management of metastatic melanoma: current strategies and future directions

Melanoma is increasing in incidence and remains a major public health threat. Although the disease may be curable when identified early, advanced melanoma is characterized by widespread metastatic disease and a median survival of less than 10 months. In recent years, however, major advances in our understanding of the molecular nature of melanoma and the interaction of melanoma cells with the immune system have resulted in several new therapeutic strategies that are showing significant clinical benefit. Current therapeutic approaches include surgical resection of metastatic disease, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. Dacarbazine, interleukin-2, ipilimumab, and vemurafenib are now approved for the treatment of advanced melanoma. In addition, new combination chemotherapy regimens, monoclonal antibodies blocking the programmed death-1 (PD-1)/PD-ligand 1 pathway, and targeted therapy against CKIT, mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK), and other putative signaling pathways in melanoma are beginning to show promise in early-phase clinical trials. Further research on these modalities alone and in combination will likely be the focus of future clinical investigation and may impact the outcomes for patients with advanced melanoma.

Variant on Manifestation of Duodenal Metastasis 26 Years after Initial Diagnosis of Primary Cutaneous Melanoma

Malignant duodenal neoplasms are relatively rare, and the diagnosis is often delayed because of their vague and nonspecific symptoms. We report the case of a 79-year-old female who had a medical history of malignant melanoma of the cheek that had initially been diagnosed at 53 years of age. Work-up revealed severe stenosis of the duodenum caused by a large mass with ulceration at the tip of its mucosal surface. Tumor biopsy led to a histological diagnosis of extremely poorly differentiated carcinoma, but it was impossible to determine whether the lesion was a primary neoplasm or represented secondary involvement. Pancreatoduodenectomy was performed, and the surgical specimen showed a protuberant tumor in the nonampullary region of the second portion of the duodenum. Final diagnosis of metastatic duodenal melanoma was made by immunohistological examination. She is currently alive without recurrence 28 months after the surgical treatment.

Surgery for melanoma metastases of the gastrointestinal tract: indications and results

AIM

To assess survival, morbidity and mortality following therapeutic or palliative resection of gastrointestinal (GI) tract melanoma metastases.

METHODS

A retrospective case series of 117 patients who underwent surgical resection of GI melanoma metastases between 1981 and 2005 was reviewed.

RESULTS

The 117 patients underwent 142 operations for acute and/or sub-acute symptoms or for imminently symptomatic GI metastases detected radiologically. The intent of the surgery was palliative in 53 (37.3%) and therapeutic in 89 (62.7%) operations. The most common symptoms were due to anaemia (40.8%) or bowel obstruction (32.4%). The most frequently performed operation was small bowel resection (76.8%). Preoperative imaging and/or endoscopy were used in 83 cases, with computerised tomography (CT) being most frequent (85.5%). CT had a sensitivity of 68.8% when used alone to detect the presence of GI metastases in the study population. The mortality rate following GI resection was 1.4%, and 2.5% of patients had post-operative complications. Overall 5-year survival was 27%. On multivariate analysis, the presence of residual intraabdominal disease and the presence of non-GI metastases at the time of surgery or after surgery were the most significant prognostic indicators of survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Resection of GI melanoma metastases is safe, relieves symptoms and can achieve prolonged remission. In patients with limited disease, an aggressive surgical approach to symptomatic or imminently symptomatic GI melanoma metastases is warranted.

Can surgeons improve survival in stage IV melanoma?

Successful systemic management of stage IV melanoma continues to be elusive because of the paucity of effective therapies. This has fueled the continued interest in surgical resection. Several single-institution studies and a current, large, multi-institutional phase III trial have demonstrated a survival benefit for patients who underwent surgical resection for melanoma metastases. Incorporating these results into new approaches using multimodality treatment may enhance survival in patients with stage IV melanoma.

Mise au point sur la prise en charge chirurgicale du mélanome malin cutané. Revue de la littérature

Nowadays managing a cutaneous malignant melanoma can concern different kind of physicians: dermatologists, general or plastic surgeons The primary surgical procedure is a major step of the treatment. Biopsy must be total to properly determine the thickness of the tumor in case of malignancy. Wide local excision of the scar is often necessary to decrease the local and general recurrence rates. Wide local excision must be performed conforming to its own surgical rules. Managing tumor located on the face or limb extremities is a matter of plastic surgery. Sentinel node biopsy has succeeded to elective lymph node dissection. This procedure allows research of lymphatic spreading of the disease. Practice of sentinel node biopsy must be achieved in a protocolar way. Topography of the lesion can modified achievement and results of this procedure. Prognosis benefit of sentinel biopsy is now clear. Elective lymph node dissection is only performed in case of invaded sentinel node or clinically invaded lymph nodes. Local or locoregional recurrences mainly respond to surgical treatment using wide excision. However, alternative solutions are being evaluated (isolated limb perfusion).

Co-immunotherapy with interleukin-2 and taurolidine for progressive metastatic melanoma

BACKGROUND

Recombinant interleukin-2(rIL-2) therapy in metastatic melanoma is limited by toxicities, particularly vascular leak syndrome(VLS). Taurolidine potentiates the anti-neoplastic effects of IL-2 while reducing its associated endothelial cell dysfunction in experimental settings. We hypothesized that co-administration of rIL-2 with taurolidine could enhance tolerability without weakening effectiveness.

METHODS

Eleven patients with progressive metastatic melanoma received high-dose rIL-2 with co-infusion of taurolidine. Patients were monitored for the development of toxicities and evidence of response.

RESULTS

Ten patients tolerated twenty-nine courses of high-dose rIL-2 without dose-reduction. Most toxicities were low-grade. No patient developed VLS. Seven patients died from disease progression. Two had complete clinical and radiological responses to treatment. Two patients remain alive despite evidence of disease progression a mean of 17.5 months after diagnosing metastatic disease.

CONCLUSION

Co-administration of taurolidine with high-dose rIL-2 in stage IV melanoma patients appears to greatly enhance the tolerability of this regime without diminishing its therapeutic value.