Melanoma of the lower genital tract: Prognostic factors and treatment modalities

Primary Malignant Melanoma of The Endocervix Uteri and Outpatient Hysteroscopy as a Diagnostic Tool: Case Report and Literature Overview

Mucosal malignant melanoma has a low incidence and only 2% are diagnosed in the gynecological tract. Diagnosis of primary cervical malignant melanoma is often challenging. The clinical presentation mimics other malignant cervical tumors, usually with abnormal bleeding or discharge. Cervical screening tests, such as cytology, often fail to detect malignant melanomas because of the rarity of the disorder, and histological evaluation of lesions is of paramount importance. The treatment is often based on regimens used for cutaneous malignant melanoma. We present the first case in the literature of primary malignant melanoma of the endocervix diagnosed by outpatient hysteroscopy and we have performed a narrative review of the literature on PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science from 1980 to December 2023, identifying 137 cases. The most common initial symptom was vaginal bleeding in 82.8% of cases, and 84.8% of patients were menopausal at the time of diagnosis. The first diagnostic modality was biopsy in 67.7%; 90% of patients underwent surgery and 64.5% of the deaths occurred within the first 12 months after diagnosis. Primary malignant melanoma of the cervix is extremely rare and difficult to diagnose at an early stage which is due to the aggressiveness of the disease and the non-specificity of the symptoms. To improve survival, early diagnosis is essential and hysteroscopy could be a useful tool in achieving it. It is crucial to increase the attention of gynecologists on primary malignant melanoma of the cervix to also perform a diagnostic hysteroscopy in case of doubtful symptoms.

Full-body skin examination in screening for cutaneous malignancy: a focus on concealed sites and the practices of Australian dermatologists

BACKGROUND

Full-body skin examination (FSE) is a vital practice in the diagnosis of cutaneous malignancy. Precisely how FSE should be conducted with respect to concealed site inclusion remains poorly elucidated.

OBJECTIVE

To establish the approach of Australian dermatologists to concealed site examination (CSE).

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed consisting of an online self-administered 11-question survey delivered to fellows of the Australasian College of Dermatologists.

RESULTS

There were 237 respondents. Anogenitalia was the least often examined concealed site (4.6%), and 59.9, 32.9, and 14.3% reported always examining the scalp, breasts, and oral mucosa, respectively. Patient concern was the most frequently cited factor prompting examination, while many cited low incidence of pathology and limited chaperone availability as the main barriers to routine examination of these sites.

CONCLUSION

Most Australian dermatologists do not routinely examine breasts, oral mucosal, or anogenital sites as part of an FSE. Emphasis should be made on identifying individual patient risk factors and education regarding self-examination of sensitive sites. A consensus approach to the conduct of the FSE, including concealed sites, is needed to better delineate clinician responsibilities and address medicolegal implications.

WNL we never looked: vulvar carcinoma incidence after screening cutoff

The incidence of vulvar carcinoma increases with age, though elderly women receive less aggressive cancer therapies and fewer strategies aimed at cancer prevention. Furthermore, elderly women dual enrolled in Medicaid-Medicare experience poor survival rates for vulvar carcinoma. Herein, we provide recommendations for the prevention of and guidelines for the multidisciplinary care of vulvar carcinoma. Prevention of vulvar carcinoma can be categorized into primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Primary prevention consists of vaccination, secondary prevention consists of screening, and tertiary prevention is aimed at the management of premalignant and early-stage lesions.

Single-cell analysis of the cellular landscape of vulvar melanoma provides new insight for immunotherapy administration

BACKGROUND

Vulvar and vaginal melanoma (VuM & VaM) is a rare gynecologic malignancy with high mortality but low effectiveness to checkpoint immunotherapy compared to cutaneous melanoma. This article aims to elucidate the role of the disordered immune microenvironment in cancer progression in VuM.

METHODS

At first, this article applied single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to the VuM obtained from a 68-year-old female patient, and constructed a single-cell atlas of VuM consist of 12,243 single cells. Then this article explores the genomic complexity and core signal channel in VuM microenvironment.

RESULTS

This article provides new insights about the pathogenesis of VuM based on single-cell resolution data. It was found that the activation of CD8+ T cell contributed to induce tumor angiogenesis and immune escape, and the activation of the antigen-presenting molecular function participated in melanoma metastasis.

CONCLUSION

This article provided new insights into underlining VuM molecular regulation and potential signaling involved in immunotherapy, which would benefit the clinical practice and administration.

A rare synchronous presentation of primary malignant melanoma in cervix and vagina

ABSTRACT

Malignant melanoma, primarily a cutaneous malignancy, can also involve mucosal surfaces and constitutes 2% to 7% of all gynecological malignancies. Primary melanoma of the uterine cervix is an uncommon tumor and has poor prognosis. In the female genital tract, the synchronous occurrence of primary malignant melanoma in the cervix and vagina is rare. We report a case of a 48-year-old female patient who presented with a blackish vaginal mass and associated growth in the cervix. Biopsy from the vaginal mass was reported as malignant melanoma. Following this, she underwent radical surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy. After 12 months, the patient is doing well.

Organ-sparing central pelvic compartment resection for the treatment of vulvo-vaginal melanomas

Vulvo-vaginal melanomas are one of the rarest gynecological oncology diseases with a poor survival compared with other malignancies. The 5-year survival varies from 13% to 32.3%. Vulvo-vaginal melanomas involving the upper 2/3rds of the vagina are usually treated with total pelvic exenteration (TPE). TPE surgery carries a 50% risk of major complications and also morbidity associated with double stomas. Central pelvic compartment resection is a novel organ-sparing surgical approach entailing radical total laparoscopic hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophrectomy, laparoscopic vaginectomy and vulvectomy to reduce morbidity compared with TPE. Permanent suprapubic catheters are used if there is urethral involvement but require quality of life studies to assess their long-term outcomes.

Clinicopathological demographics of malignant melanomas of the vulva and vagina in Japan

Malignant vulvar melanoma (VuM) and vaginal melanoma (VaM) represent a unique subgroup of rare malignant melanomas with critical biological properties that differ from other cancers. In Japan, adequate surveys have yet to be conducted. This study aimed to elucidate the clinicopathological demographics and outcomes of VuM and VaM in Japan. This retrospective observational study included women with invasive VuM or VaM identified from older medical records in Japan. We collected clinical data and used the Kaplan-Meier method to analyze progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Univariate and multivariate regression models were used to identify factors significantly related to survival. We identified 217 patients, 109 (50.2%) with VuM and 108 (49.8%) with VaM. The median PFS was 16.8 months in patients with VuM [95% confidence interval (CI), 23.1-87.7] and 15.6 months in those with VaM (95% CI, 8.4-12.6). The median OS was 43.9 months (95% CI, 60-138) and 31.1 months (95% CI, 24.8-45.3) in patients with VuM and VaM, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that a disease stage higher than stage III, based on the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) guidelines, was associated with poorer PFS [hazard ratio (HR), 2.063; 95% CI, 0.995-4.278] and an unknown surgical margin was the only independent factor influencing OS (HR, 2.188; 95% CI, 1.203-3.977). The overall outcomes of invasive VuM and VaM in Japan remain poor. AJCC staging and surgical margins were significant predictors of survival.

Morusin shows potent antitumor activity for melanoma through apoptosis induction and proliferation inhibition

BACKGROUND

The discovery of new anti-melanoma drugs with low side effect is urgently required in the clinic. Recent studies showed that morusin, a flavonoid compound isolated from the root bark of Morus Alba, has the potential to treat multiple types of cancers, including breast cancer, gastric cancer, and prostate cancer. However, the anti-cancer effect of morusin on melanoma cells has not been investigated.

METHODS

We analyzed the effects of morusin on the proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, cell migration and invasion ability of melanoma cells A375 and MV3, and further explored the effects of morusin on tumor formation of melanoma cell. Finally, the effects of morusin on the proliferation, cycle, apoptosis, migration and invasion of A375 cells after knockdown of p53 were detected.

RESULTS

Morusin effectively inhibits the proliferation of melanoma cells and induces cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. Consistently, CyclinB1 and CDK1 that involved in the G2/M phase transition were down-regulated upon morusin treatment, which may be caused by the up-regulation of p53 and p21. In addition, morusin induces cell apoptosis and inhibits migration of melanoma cells, which correlated with the changes in the expression of the associated molecules including PARP, Caspase3, E-Cadherin and Vimentin. Moreover, morusin inhibits tumor growth in vivo with little side effect on the tumor-burden mice. Finally, p53 knockdown partially reversed morusin-mediated cell proliferation inhibition, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, our study expanded the spectrum of the anti-cancer activity of morusin and guaranteed the clinical use of the drug for melanoma treatment.

Multimodality treatment of a primary vulvar melanoma in a low resource setting: A case report

Primary vulvar melanoma is a rare but highly aggressive malignant neoplasm accounting for 1-2 % of all malignant melanoma and 5-10 % of all vulvar cancers in females. Here we report a case of 32 years old female diagnosed with primary vulvar melanoma during the evaluation of a two cm growth in the inner labia minora on the right side. She underwent wide local excision with excision of the distal one cm of the urethra and bilateral groin node dissection. The final histopathology was vulvar malignant melanoma with 1 out of 15 groin nodes involved but all resected margins were free of tumor. The final surgical stage was T4bN1aM0 (8th AJCC TNM) and IIIC (FIGO). She received adjuvant radiotherapy followed by 17 cycles of Pembrolizumab. To date, she is both clinically and radiologically disease free with a progression-free survival of 9 months.

Vaginal cancer treated with curative radiotherapy with or without concomitant chemotherapy: oncologic outcomes and prognostic factors

BACKGROUND

Vaginal cancer is a rare disease for which prospective randomized trials do not exist. We aimed to assess survival outcomes, patterns of recurrence, prognostic factors, and toxicity in the curative treatment using image-guided radiotherapy (RT).

METHODS

In this retrospective review, we identified 53 patients who were treated at a single center with external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy with or without concomitant chemotherapy from 2000 to 2021.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up of 64.5 months, the Kaplan-Meier 2-, 5-, and 7-year overall survival (OS) was found to be 74.8%, 62.8%, and 58.9%, respectively. Local and distant control were 67.8%, 65.0%, and 65.0% and 74.4%, 62.6%, and 62.6% at 2, 5, and 7 years, respectively. In univariate Cox proportional hazards ratio analysis, OS was significantly correlated to FIGO stage (hazard ratio [HR] 1.78, p = 0.042), postoperative RT (HR 0.41, p = 0.044), and concomitant chemotherapy (HR 0.31, p = 0.009). Local control rates were superior when an equivalent dose in 2-Gy fractions (EQD2) of ⩾65 Gy was delivered (HR 0.216, p = 0.028) and with the use of concurrent chemotherapy (HR 0.248, p = 0.011). Not surprisingly, local control was inferior for patients with a higher TNM stage (HR 3.303, p = 0.027). Minimal toxicity was observed with no patients having documentation of high-grade toxicity (CTCAE grade 3+).

CONCLUSION

In treatment of vaginal cancer, high-dose RT in combination with brachytherapy is well tolerated and results in effective local control rates, which significantly improve with an EQD2(α/β=10) ⩾65 Gy. Multivariate analyses revealed concomitant chemotherapy was a positive prognostic factor for overall and progression-free survival.

Different clinico-pathological and prognostic features of vulvar, vaginal, and cervical melanomas

Female genital tract melanoma (FGTM) is a rare and aggressive melanocytic malignancy, and its clinico-pathological and prognostic features at different anatomic sites have not yet been fully described. We retrospectively analyzed and compared the clinico-pathological data and survival outcomes of patients with primary lower genital tract melanoma enrolled between January 2005 and December 2020. We identified 95 patients with FGTM, of whom 46 had vulvar melanomas (VuM), 43 had vaginal melanomas (VaM), and six had cervical melanomas (CM). The clinical characteristics of all 95 cases, including symptoms, single or multiple primary lesions, clinical stage, surgery, and histopathological characteristics of 62 primary untreated cases, including pigmentation, predominant cytology, histological pattern, mitotic figures, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes of VuM, VaM, and CM, differed significantly. In comparison, only trend differences in molecular alternations were evident (p = 0.077). Disease-specific survival (DSS) was 30.7% at 5 years (46.5%, 25.6%, and 44.4% for VuM, VaM and CM, respectively). Seventy-one (85.5%) patients experienced FGTM recurrence. The median time to the first recurrence was 11 months, and VaM recurred earlier than VM and CM (16, 6, and 10 months for VuM, VaM, and CM, respectively, p = 0.038). A univariate analysis of 50 cases revealed the negative factors of disease-specific survival (DSS), including the location of the vagina and the presence of ulceration, and the negative factors of recurrence-free survival (RFS), including multiple lesions, the presence of ulceration, and the presence of lymphovascular invasion. Multiple lesions showed a borderline correlation with DSS. A multivariate Cox regression analyses of 50 cases revealed that the presence of ulceration was associated with shorter DSS and RFS (yes vs. no, Hazard Ratio = 2.400 and 2.716, respectively). Vaginal location showed a significant correlation with DSS (Hazard Ratio = 2.750, p = 0.024). In conclusion, vulval, vaginal, and cervical melanomas may differ in terms of their clinico-pathological features and associations with DSS and RFS. Ulceration and vaginal location were significantly associated with shorter DSS, and ulceration was associated with an increased risk of FGTM recurrence.

Primary Malignant Melanoma of Uterine Cervix with Disseminated Involvement of Lower Genitourinary Tract

Introduction: Primary malignant melanomas (MM) of the female urogenital tract are extremely rare and aggressive neoplasms. The majority of these neoplasms occur in postmenopausal women, originate from the vulva and vagina, and involvement of the uterus, cervix, and ovary is exceedingly uncommon. Case Presentation: We presented a patient with MM of the uterine cervix, first diagnosed with a punch biopsy of the lesion, which was distributed from the cervical mass to the vestibule and labia minor. She underwent anterior pelvic exenteration. Pathology evaluation revealed primary MM of uterine cervix in FIGO stage III. She received adjuvant treatment with radiation and immunotherapy. On her fallow up 1 year after her disease diagnosis, she is still alive without evidence of distant metastasis. Conclusions: When feasible, pelvic exenteration offers appropriate initial management in cervical MM.

A Scoping Review and Population Study Regarding Prevalence and Histopathology of Juvenile Vulvar Melanocytic Lesions. A Recommendation

Cases of vulvar melanocytic lesions in juveniles are rarely reported. We analyze the evidence regarding vulvar melanocytic lesions in juveniles with or without vulvar lichen sclerosus to help decision making by clinicians and pathologists. A scoping review on vulvar melanocytic lesions with or without vulvar lichen sclerosus, including malignant vulvar melanomas, in females up to age 18 years was performed. In addition, the histopathology records of the cohort of all such lesions in The Netherlands from 1991 through 2020 were investigated, and a structured analysis of tissue samples of the subset of cases with lichen sclerosus was performed. The literature study performed confirms that vulvar melanomas in juveniles are extremely rare and that published case reports are often disputed. In The Netherlands, there are no cases of malignant vulvar melanomas up to age 18 years recorded from 1991 through 2020. Atypical histopathological features are often found in biopsies of vulvar nevi in juveniles, especially with concomitant lichen sclerosus, confirming earlier case studies in the literature. We conclude that even with atypical findings, vulvar melanocytic lesions in juveniles have a benign course. To avoid unnecessary and possibly mutilating procedures, we advise referral to an expert center and adaption of existing guidelines for vulvar melanocytic lesions in juveniles.

Intra-Abdominal Malignant Melanoma: Challenging Aspects of Epidemiology, Clinical and Paraclinical Diagnosis and Optimal Treatment—A Literature Review

According to European consensus-based interdisciplinary guidelines for melanoma, cutaneous melanoma (CM) is the most deadly form of dermatological malignancy, accounting for 90% of the deaths of skin cancer patients. In addition to cutaneous melanoma, mucosal melanoma occurs in four major anatomical sites, including the upper respiratory tract, the conjunctiva, the anorectal region, and the urogenital area. As this cancer type metastasizes, a classification used in the current medical literature is the distinction between secondary lesions and primary malignant melanoma of the abdominal cavity. Given that malignant melanoma is the most common cancer that spreads to the gastrointestinal tract, different imaging modalities compete to diagnose the phenomenon correctly and to measure its extension. Treatment is primarily surgery-based, supported by immunotherapy, and prolongs survival, even when performed at stage IV illness. In the end, special forms of malignant melanoma are discussed, such as melanoma of the genito-urinary tract and amelanotic/achromic melanoma. The importance of this present literature review relies on yielding and grouping consistent and relevant, updated information on the many aspects and challenges that a clinician might encounter during the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with intra-abdominal melanoma.

Radiotherapy and Immunotherapy, Combined Treatment for Unresectable Mucosal Melanoma with Vaginal Origin

Gynecologic melanomas are uncommon and malignant mucosal melanomas with vaginal origin are extremely rare, treatment strategies are limited and extrapolated from those of cutaneous melanoma. A better understanding of the vulvovaginal melanoma’s biology and its risk factors is needed. Therapeutic strategies include surgery, systemic therapy and radiotherapy. For vulvovaginal melanoma, surgery is selected as the primary treatment. Immunotherapy and target treatment have recently enhanced the systemic therapy for cutaneous melanoma (CM). Immunotherapy and new target agents demonstrated a better survival of melanoma and might be considered as treatment of vulvovaginal melanoma. Radiotherapy is included in the therapeutic arsenal for mucosal melanoma and may be performed on selected patients who may receive concurrent checkpoints and inhibition neoadjuvant radiotherapy with the purpose of reducing morbidity and mortality.

The European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO), the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD), the European College for the Study of Vulval Disease (ECSVD) and the European Federation for Colposcopy (EFC) consensus statements on pre-invasive vulvar lesions

The European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO), the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD), the European College for the Study of Vulval Disease (ECSVD), and the European Federation for Colposcopy (EFC) developed consensus statements on pre-invasive vulvar lesions in order to improve the quality of care for patients with vulvar squamous intraepithelial neoplasia, vulvar Paget disease in situ, and melanoma in situ. For differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (dVIN), an excisional procedure must always be adopted. For vulvar high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (VHSIL), both excisional procedures and ablative ones can be used. The latter can be considered for anatomy and function preservation and must be preceded by several representative biopsies to exclude malignancy. Medical treatment (imiquimod or cidofovir) can be considered for VHSIL. Recent studies favor an approach of using imiquimod in vulvar Paget's disease. Surgery must take into consideration that the extension of the disease is usually wider than what is evident in the skin. A 2 cm margin is usually considered necessary. A wide local excision with 1 cm free surgical margins is recommended for melanoma in situ. Following treatment of pre-invasive vulvar lesions, women should be seen on a regular basis for careful clinical assessment, including biopsy of any suspicious area. Follow-up should be modulated according to the risk of recurrence (type of lesion, patient age and immunological conditions, other associated lower genital tract lesions).

The European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO), the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD), the European College for the Study of Vulval Disease (ECSVD) and the European Federation for Colposcopy (EFC) Consensus Statements on Pre-invasive Vulvar Lesions

ABSTRACT

The European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO), the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD), the European College for the Study of Vulval Disease (ECSVD), and the European Federation for Colposcopy (EFC) developed consensus statements on pre-invasive vulvar lesions in order to improve the quality of care for patients with vulvar squamous intraepithelial neoplasia, vulvar Paget disease in situ, and melanoma in situ. For differentiated vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (dVIN), an excisional procedure must always be adopted. For vulvar high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (VHSIL), both excisional procedures and ablative ones can be used. The latter can be considered for anatomy and function preservation and must be preceded by several representative biopsies to exclude malignancy. Medical treatment (imiquimod or cidofovir) can be considered for VHSIL. Recent studies favor an approach of using imiquimod in vulvar Paget's disease. Surgery must take into consideration that the extension of the disease is usually wider than what is evident in the skin. A 2 cm margin is usually considered necessary. A wide local excision with 1 cm free surgical margins is recommended for melanoma in situ. Following treatment of pre-invasive vulvar lesions, women should be seen on a regular basis for careful clinical assessment, including biopsy of any suspicious area. Follow-up should be modulated according to the risk of recurrence (type of lesion, patient age and immunological conditions, other associated lower genital tract lesions).

Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Cervix: An Integrated Analysis of Case Reports and Series

Melanoma, also known as malignant melanoma, is a type of malignant tumour that originates from melanocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis. Primary malignant melanomas of the female genital tract are rare. Similarly, primary malignant melanoma of cervix, which originates from cervical melanocytes, is an extremely rare disease and the second most common type of female melanoma in women aged between 15 to 44 years worldwide. To date, primary malignant melanoma of the cervix is characterized by poor patient prognosis and little consensus exists regarding the best treatment therapy. The situation is worsened by lack of clinical studies with large samples. Notably, surgery remains the preferred treatment option for patients with primary malignant melanomas of the cervix. Current treatments are based on Federation International of Gynecology and Obstetrics(2018) staging with reference to National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. This study is in order to find a more suitable treatment modality for primary malignant melanoma of cervix. Therefore, we first conducted an integrated analysis of case reports and series to assess the impact of various factors on the prognosis of such patients. In summary, this is the first pooled analysis including 149 cases of primary cervical melanoma. We found that patients who underwent radical hysterectomy-based surgery, those with non-metastatic lymph nodes and those who underwent lymphadenectomy had significantly higher survival rates. In patients who had RH-based surgery, survival rates at the 24m time point of those who did not add other treatments was higher than those who did, but for those who had total hysterectomy-based surgery, the addition of other treatments to prolong median survival may be considered. In the overall analysis, age and lymphadenectomy were associated with increased and reduced risk of death in these patients, respectively. Although there is no statistical difference, stage III&IV, TAH, lymphatic metastases increase the risk of death; whereas radical hysterectomy was associated with reduced risk of death. In the subgroup analysis, for patients who have undergone radical hysterectomy-based surgery, lymphadenectomy reduces the risk of death, while lymphatic metastases and complementary other treatments increase the risk of death. For patients who have undergone total hysterectomy-based surgery, complementary treatment reduces the risk of death. In conclusion, via summarizing previous reports, the recommended treatment procedure for PMMC are radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy. The addition of other treatment options for patients who undergoing RH-based surgery need further study.

Hadron Therapy Achievements and Challenges: The CNAO Experience

Protons and carbon ions (hadrons) have useful properties for the treatments of patients affected by oncological pathologies. They are more precise than conventional X-rays and possess radiobiological characteristics suited for treating radio-resistant or inoperable tumours. This paper gives an overview of the status of hadron therapy around the world. It focusses on the Italian National Centre for Oncological Hadron therapy (CNAO), introducing operation procedures, system performance, expansion projects, methodologies and modelling to build individualized treatments. There is growing evidence that supports safety and effectiveness of hadron therapy for a variety of clinical situations. However, there is still a lack of high-level evidence directly comparing hadron therapy with modern conventional radiotherapy techniques. The results give an overview of pre-clinical and clinical research studies and of the treatments of 3700 patients performed at CNAO. The success and development of hadron therapy is strongly associated with the creation of networks among hadron therapy facilities, clinics, universities and research institutions. These networks guarantee the growth of cultural knowledge on hadron therapy, favour the efficient recruitment of patients and present available competences for R&D (Research and Development) programmes.

Vulvar Melanoma: Molecular Characteristics, Diagnosis, Surgical Management, and Medical Treatment

Ten percent of all women have pigmented vulvar lesions. Fortunately, most of these are benign but 1% of all melanomas in women affect the vulva. While the mortality rate of cutaneous melanoma has dropped by 7% annually during the last 5 years, the prognosis of vulvar melanoma remains dismal: the 5-year overall survival rate is 47% compared with 92% for cutaneous melanoma. The current evidence suggests that this likely results from a combination of delayed diagnosis and different tumor biology, treatment strategies, and treatment response. Although many landmark trials on checkpoint inhibitors included mucosal and vulvar melanomas, the results were often not reported separately. Post-hoc analyses indicate overall response rates between 19 and 37% for checkpoint inhibitors. A recently published retrospective study on vulvar melanomas suggests an objective response in 33.3% with a similar safety profile to cutaneous melanoma. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors may be considered in recurrent disease if a c-KIT mutation is present.

Vulvar melanoma: an analysis of prognostic factors and treatment patterns

Objective

Melanoma comprises 5% to 10% of vulvar cancers and prognosis is poor. The purpose of this study was to identify prognostic factors and treatment patterns for vulvar melanoma using the National Cancer Database (NCDB).

Methods

The NCDB was queried for patients with invasive vulvar melanoma from 2004–2015. Descriptive statistics were generated to describe clinical and treatment details. Multivariable Cox regression and the Kaplan-Meier method were used to examine overall survival (OS).

Results

1,917 patients with vulvar melanoma met inclusion criteria. Median follow-up time was 32 months (range, 0–151 months). Older age, larger tumor size, advanced disease stage, increased Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score, and care at a non-academic center were independent predictors for decreased OS. Surgical management of the primary site, lymph node surgery, and insurance provided a significant survival benefit. Use of immunotherapy for vulvar melanoma has increased over time. Two-year OS with immunotherapy in patients with distant metastatic disease was higher, although this did not reach statistical significance (33% vs. 12%, p=0.054).

Conclusions

Vulvar melanoma has a poor prognosis for those with regional and distant metastatic disease. Extent of disease, tumor size, and patient age are important prognostic factors. Other favorable factors included insurance and surgical management. The use of immunotherapy has increased over time and may improve survival in those with distant disease. These data support further investigation into the role of immunotherapy for vulvar melanoma to optimize outcomes.

Management of Noncutaneous Melanomas

Noncutaneous melanomas are rare subtypes of melanoma with high rates of metastatic disease and poor overall survival. One-third to one-half of cases are amelanotic, which may contribute to a delay in diagnosis. Immunohistochemistry staining with typical melanoma markers helps confirm the diagnosis. There is no standard staging system across mucosal melanomas. Elective nodal dissection is not recommended and there is a paucity of data to support use of sentinel lymph node biopsy. Mutational analysis should be routinely performed. Systemic therapy options include targeted inhibitors, immunotherapy, and cytotoxic chemotherapy, although further studies are needed to confirm their efficacy.

Nodular malignant melanoma in vulvar skin without pigmentation: a case report

Background

Polypoid nodule growing without apparent pigmentation on the vulvar skin usually reminds us of the diagnostic pitfall, which is commonly and mistakenly diagnosed as other types of tumors. Although there are several manifestations of amelanotic melanoma are known, these malignancies are usually pigmented because they are derived from melanocytes containing melanin. However, amelanotic melanomas are easily misdiagnosed or their diagnoses were commonly delayed due to lack of pigmentation. Therefore, a solitary polypoid nodule is worth noting and further reporting. Particularly, the clinical characteristics and outcomes of the solitary polypoid nodule are rare in Asian patients.

Case presentation

We presented an interesting case of a 33-year-old female with a solitary polypoid nodule without apparent pigmentation on her vulvar skin. Her medical history was unclear, no ulcer was seen in the lesion area, and dermatoscopy was indicated a possible tumorous change, which has caught the attention of clinicians, and then further examined by the pathologist. The final diagnosis was nodular malignant melanoma (NM) (Breslow thickness 9.5mm, Clark level 4).

Conclusions

Hence, though reviewing this case record, the relevant literature and NM-related materials, we suggest that the combination of skin imaging technology and histopathological examination could provide us a better understanding and reduce the possibility of misdiagnosis in clinic practice.

Vulvar and Vaginal Melanomas-The Darker Shades of Gynecological Cancers

Melanomas of the skin are poorly circumscribed lesions, very frequently asymptomatic but unfortunately with a continuous growing incidence. In this landscape, one can distinguish melanomas originating in the mucous membranes and located in areas not exposed to the sun, namely the vulvo-vaginal melanomas. By contrast with cutaneous melanomas, the incidence of these types of melanomas is constant, being diagnosed in females in their late sixties. While hairy skin and glabrous skin melanomas of the vulva account for 5% of all cancers located in the vulva, melanomas of the vagina and urethra are particularly rare conditions. The location in areas less accessible to periodic inspection determines their diagnosis in advanced stages, often metastatic. Moreover, despite the large number of drugs newly approved in recent decades for the treatment of cutaneous melanoma, especially in the category of biological drugs, the mortality of vulvo-vaginal melanomas has remained almost constant. This, together with the absence of specific treatment guidelines due to the lack of a sufficient number of cases to conduct randomized clinical trials, makes melanomas with this localization a discouraging diagnosis, associated with a very poor prognosis. Our aim is therefore to draw attention to this oftentimes overlooked entity in order to encourage the community to employ various strategies meant to increase research in this area. By highlighting the main risk factors of vulvar and vaginal melanomas, as well as the clinical manifestations and molecular changes underlying these neoplasms, ideally novel therapeutic schemes will, in time, be brought into effect.

Recurrent KRAS, KIT and SF3B1 mutations in melanoma of the female genital tract

BACKGROUND

Malignant melanoma of the female genital tract is relatively uncommon and accounts for 3-7% of all melanoma localizations. This study aimed to identify driver genes in melanoma of the female genital tract with the purpose of enhancing understanding of disease pathogenesis and identifying potential new therapeutic targets to develop effective therapies.

METHODS

KIT (CD117) and BRAF expression were detected immunohistochemically. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Sanger sequencing techniques were performed to identify the mutational status of BRAF, NRAS, KRAS, NF1, KIT, PDGFRA and SF3B1 on 19 melanomas of the female genital tract, paired with 25 cutaneous melanomas, 18 acral melanomas and 11 melanomas of nasal cavity.

RESULTS

Somatic variant analysis identified KRAS (6/19; 32%) as the most commonly mutated gene, followed by KIT (4/19; 21%), SF3B1 (3/19; 16%) and NRAS (1/19; 5%). None of the cases were found to harbor BRAF, NF1 and PDGFRA mutations in melanomas of the female genital tract. However, none of the cases were found to harbor SF3B1 and KIT mutations in cutaneous melanomas, acral melanomas and melanomas of nasal cavity. Recurrent KIT mutations, as well as mutations in the less frequently mutated genes NRAS and SF3B1, were exclusively detected in vulvovaginal melanomas, but not in tumors arising in the cervix. However, recurrent KRAS mutations were detected in similar frequencies in tumors of the vulva, vagina, and cervix. Additionally, recurrent KRAS and KIT mutations occurred predominantly in polygonal and epithelioid cell types of melanoma in the female genital tract. Immunohistochemistry revealed moderate or strong cytoplasmic CD117 expression in 6 of the 19 cases (31.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

We observed that gynecologic melanoma harbored distinct mutation rates in the KIT, BRAF, SF3B1, KRAS, and NRAS genes. Our findings support the notion that gynecologic melanoma is a distinct entity from non-gynecologic melanoma, and these findings offer insights into future therapeutic options for these patients.

Current Status and Prospects of Immunotherapy for Gynecologic Melanoma

Gynecologic melanomas are rare and have a poor prognosis. Although immunotherapy (immune checkpoint inhibitors) and targeted therapy has greatly improved the systemic treatment of cutaneous melanoma (CM) in recent years, its efficacy in gynecologic melanomas remains uncertain because of the rarity of this malignancy and its scarce literature. This review aimed to evaluate the literature of gynecologic melanomas treated with immunotherapy and targeted therapy through a PubMed search. We identified one study focusing on the overall survival of gynecologic melanomas separately and five case series and nine case reports concentrating on gynecologic melanomas treated with an immune checkpoint inhibitor and/or targeted therapy. Furthermore, the KIT mutation has the highest rate among all mutations in mucosal melanoma types. The KIT inhibitors (Tyrosine kinase inhibitors: TKIs) imatinib and nilotinib could be the treatment options. Moreover, immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with KIT inhibitors may potentially treat cases of resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, because of the different conditions and a small number of cases, it is difficult to evaluate the efficacy of immunotherapy and targeted therapy for gynecologic melanoma rigorously at this time. Further prospective cohort or randomized trials of gynecologic melanoma alone are needed to assess the treatment with solid evidence.

Primary vaginal malignant melanoma: A rare case report of successful treatment with nivolumab

RATIONALE

Primary vaginal malignant melanoma is a sporadic and very aggressive tumor that is treated through surgery or radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy. Since most cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, the operation range is extensive, the quality of life is poor, and the prognosis is gloomy.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 58-year-old woman presented irregular water-like leukorrhea for 1 month after 6 years of menopause. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography revealed a 3.1 × 2.6 × 3.2 mass on the middle and lower part of the right vaginal wall. A gynecological examination revealed a 2 to 3 cm exophytic black mass in the lower-right part of the vaginal orifice. This mass was 2 cm from the urethral orifice. Furthermore, the mucosa of the anterior inferior vaginal wall had blackened and thickened, and there were some scattered black dots at the medial labia minora.

DIAGNOSIS

Due to the patient's symptoms with radiographic findings, the postmenopausal woman was diagnosed with primary vaginal malignant melanoma.

INTERVENTIONS

Surgery was done to remove the mass. The patient also underwent inguinal lymph node dissection, received immunotherapy, and was treated with nivolumab.

OUTCOMES

After a 6-month follow-up period, the patient underwent a routine gynecological examination with negative radiological results. Moreover, no local recurrence or distant metastases were found.

LESSONS

This patient showed a good response to immunotherapy. With this treatment method, the prognosis is better for advanced-stage women, especially those who cannot endure the surgery. Local lesion resection and inguinal lymph node dissection combined with immunotherapy are recommended. The case reported here may help treat similar clinical cases.

Female Genital Tract Melanoma: 10 Years of Experience at a Single Tertiary Center

OBJECTIVE

Malignant melanoma of the female genital tract is a rare disease with poor prognosis, with controversies remaining in its staging and management. In this study, we investigate clinical, pathological, and outcome data for patients referred to a tertiary cancer center with female genital tract melanoma over a decade.

METHODS

Patients were retrospectively identified using a search of pathology reports to identify all cases of female genital tract melanoma from 2007 to 2019. Electronic patient records were used to record clinical information. Histopathology specimens were reviewed by a gynecological and dermatological pathology specialist.

RESULTS

We identified 30 cases of genital tract melanoma, of which 19 were vulvar, 10 were vaginal, and 1 cervical. Overall survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was found to be 80%, 60%, and 57%. Patients who died were not significantly older at presentation than patients who survived (62 y vs 69 y, p = .215). No association was found between mortality and microscopic ulceration, lymphovascular invasion, pigmentation, resection margins, or radical versus local surgery.Nonvulvar lesions were significantly associated with mortality compared with vulvar lesions (p = .0018), despite similar age and Breslow thickness. Five patients were diagnosed at in situ stage, all of these were vulvar. Even after excluding these melanomas in situ, nonvulvar melanomas still had a significantly worse mortality rate (p = .048). A higher proportion of nonvulvar lesions than vulvar lesions displayed loss of pigmentation (p = .026).

CONCLUSIONS

Nonvulvar genital tract melanomas carry a significantly worse prognosis. Survival was not related to resection margins, supporting the use of more conservative surgical margins.

Immunotherapy combined with high- and low-dose radiation to all sites leads to complete clearance of disease in a patient with metastatic vaginal melanoma

A 73-year-old woman with metastatic vaginal mucosal melanoma that had progressed on ipilimumab and nivolumab experienced clinical and radiographic complete response to dual checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy given in combination with high-dose plus low-dose radiation. General characteristics and treatment options in this disease are highlighted.

Vulvar and vaginal melanomas: A retrospective study spanning 19 years from a tertiary center

INTRODUCTION

Mucosal melanomas (MM) of the female genital tract are rare a. We aimed to study the prognostic factors of vulvar and vaginal locations of MM.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A multicenter, retrospective cohort study conducted between 01/01/2000 and 01/06/2019.

RESULT

Of the 33 patients included 25 (75.8 %) had vulvar (VuM) and eight (24.2 %) vaginal melanomas (VaM). VaMs were deeper: median Breslow index: 17.5mm [3.5-22] versus 4.3mm [0.35-18] (p=0.013). Average follow-up was 24.0±59.8 months. Twenty-six patients (78.8 %) experienced recurrence. Disease-free survival was 52.9 % at 1year (64.7 % for VuM and 14.3 % for VaM) and 8.4 % at 3 years (11 % for VuM and 0% for VaM) (p=0.002). Median time to the first recurrence was 9.01 months [CI95 %: 2.07-56.71]. VaM recurred earlier than VuM (3.12 months [CI95 %: 2.07-12.49] versus 17.72 [CI95 %: 3.58-56.71], p=0.011). VaM had a higher risk of recurrence (HR=5.64 [CI95 %: 2.01-15.82], p=0.001) in multivariate analysis. Overall survival was 88.5 % at 1year (100 % for VuM and 50 % for VaM), and 59.4 % at 3 years (69.3 % for VuM and 25 % for VaM). Women with VaM died earlier: median specific death occurrence of 8.76 months [CI95 %: 6.54-24.72] versus 39.61 [CI95 %: 21.89-209.21], p=0.013 (HR=5.08 [CI95 %: 1.39-18.60], p=0.014). A lesion size ≥3cm was associated with an increased risk of mortality (HR=8.45 [CI95 %: 1.60-44.52], p=0.012). In multivariate analysis, vaginal location remained an independent and predictive variable of a higher risk of specific death (HR=8.56 [CI95 %: 1.95-37.64], p=0.005).

CONCLUSION

A vaginal location of MM is associated with a poorer prognosis than a vulvar location.

Cutaneous and Mucosal Melanomas of Uncommon Sites: Where Do We Stand Now?

Melanomas arising at uncommon sites include a group of lesions related to unusual localizations in specific ethnic groups. The rarity of the disease often represents a limit to the participation of patients in specific trials. However, this peculiar genetic scenario has important therapeutic implications regarding new oncologic therapies. The aim of this article is to review the clinical features, somatic alterations and therapeutic options for melanomas of uncommon sites. They can be classified as cutaneous and mucosal lesions affecting the nail apparatus, palms/soles, oral mucosa, genital area and scalp. The prognosis may be worse compared to melanomas of other districts, and a prompt diagnosis may dramatically influence the outcome. Dermatologists and oncologists should therefore distinguish this melanoma subgroup in terms of surgical intervention and medical treatment. Due to the lack of mutations in genes usually found in cutaneous melanomas, the discovery of novel targets is required to develop new strategies and to change the prognosis of non-responders or wild-type patients.

Construction and validation of a prognostic nomogram for primary vulvar melanoma: a SEER population-based study

BACKGROUND

Primary vulvar melanoma was an aggressive and poorly understood gynecological tumor. Unlike cutaneous melanoma, the incidence of vulvar melanoma was low but the survival was poor. There were no standard staging system and no census on treatment strategies of vulvar melanoma. Therefore, we aimed to conduct and validate a comprehensive prognostic model for predicting overall survival of vulvar melanoma and provide guidance for clinical management.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with vulvar melanoma between year 2004 and 2015 from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) database were randomized to training cohort and validation cohort. Multivariate survival analysis was performed to screen for independent factors of survival. A nomogram was established to predict overall survival of vulvar melanoma. Receiver operating characteristic curve and calibration plot were performed to verify the discrimination and accuracy of the model. The decision curve analysis was performed to verify the clinical applicability of the model.

RESULTS

Total 737 patients with vulvar melanoma were randomized to the training cohort (n = 517) and the validation cohort (n = 220). Nomogram including age, race, tumor site, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node status, distant metastasis, tumor size, surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy was established and validated. The c-indexes for SEER stage, American Joint Committee on Cancer stage and this model were 0.561, 0.635 and 0.826, respectively. The high-risk group scored by this model had worse survival than the low-risk group (P < 0.001). Decision curve analysis revealed this model was superior in predicting survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Our model was deemed to be a useful tool for predicting overall survival of vulvar melanoma with good discrimination and clinical applicability. We hoped this model would assist gynecologists in clinical decision and management of patients diagnosed with vulvar melanoma.

Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Cervix: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature

Background

Gynecologic melanomas are extremely rare malignancies, and primary malignant melanoma of the cervix (PMMC) is the rarest among them all, with less than 100 cases reported so far. Although some conditions have been correlated with the pathogenesis of this entity, no specific risk factor has been yet identified, with vaginal bleeding being the most common symptoms. The diagnosis is based on physical examination with speculum assessment and cytologic and histopathologic findings accompanied with immunohistochemical staining of lesion's biopsies. Case Presentation. We report a case of PMMC in a 34-year-old para-2 patient, among the youngest cases of PMMC reported, that presented to our clinic for routine examination. Gynecologic examination demonstrated a dark, heavily fully pigmented cervical growth completely covering the entire external cervical os. Biopsy obtained and showed malignant melanoma. She underwent radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. The pathological diagnosis was FIGO stage IB1 PMMC. Despite 2 courses of anti-PD-1 antibody (Nivolumab) treatment, the patient passed away 13 months after diagnosis (12 months after surgery).

Conclusions

Early diagnosis and subsequently early treatment are of high importance regarding patients' prognosis and survival. No standardized protocols or treatment guidelines specific for this rare cancer have been issued; thus, clinicians are called to assess each case individually. Current treatment options are based on surgical excision mostly with radical hysterectomy, but in advanced or recurrent state of the disease, other treatment modalities, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, can be employed. Prognosis for these patients is very poor, and survival rate remains extremely low, with the median OS reported being less than 2 years. Reporting and publishing of such cases are both of paramount importance for the better understanding of this uncommon cervical malignancy, and further biological and clinical investigations are required for more suitable and effective therapies to be determined. A new staging system, specific to PMMC, could be of great use for the better correlation of the disease's stage and prognosis of these patients.

The role of sentinel lymph node mapping in lower genital tract melanoma

INTRODUCTION

Vulvar and vaginal melanomas are rare cancers of the female genital tract and account for 1% to 3% of all melanomas diagnosed in women. Due to the rarity of the disease, few data are available on the clinical and pathologic features of these cancers. Furthermore, treatment options are generally based on extrapolations of the information available for the more common cutaneous counterparts. Surgery represents the mainstay of treatment for lower genital tract melanoma. Moreover, the role of sentinel lymph node (SLN) assessment is controversial because no prospective data are available.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Data were collected from Medline, Embase, Web of Sciences and Scopus databases. On July 10, 2020, we used the search comprising the terms "vulvar melanoma," "genital melanoma" and "vulvovaginal melanoma" including only studies in which SLN biopsy was performed.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Ten retrospective studies have been found. No randomized trials have been reported. The studies included 132 patients while only 63 (47%) undergone SLN. 99mTC with or without blue dye followed by ultrastaging was highly accurate and is currently the gold standard. Mean detection rate was 98.3%. No clear evidence supported the execution of back lymphadenectomy (after SLN mapping), in fact, extrapolating data from cutaneous melanomas of other sites, completion of lymphadenectomy does not confer a melanoma-specific survival advantage.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the small amount of available data, sentinel lymph node procedure is feasible and capable of identifying patients who have occult lymph node metastases. However, the potential role of the sentinel lymph node procedure as an alternative method of lymph node staging in patients with vulvar or vaginal melanoma needs further investigation.

Non-human-papillomavirus-related malignancies of the vulva: A clinicopathological study

BACKGROUND

Malignant tumor of the vulva is the fourth gynecological malignancy in frequency. Close to 70% of all vulvar malignancies are related to high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

METHODS

A search for non-HPV-related malignant tumors of the vulva was performed in the last 20 years (2000-2020) in the pathology database of a single tertiary institution. We aim to estimate the prevalence of non-HPV-related malignancies in our population, describe clinicopathological features of these tumors and investigate the expression of some potential therapeutic targets.

RESULTS

A total of 71 patients were recovered; 26 patients (36%) had the diagnosis of extramammary Paget disease, 17 patients (24%) had basal cell carcinomas, 17 patients (24%) had primary melanomas, 10 patients (14%) had metastatic disease to the vulva and one patient (1%) had a primary dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. Fifty-four percent of patients with extramammary Paget disease had a secondary malignancy and 12.5% had invasive disease. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PDL-1) was positive in seven out of nine primary melanomas and Her2/neu was overexpressed in six out of seven extramammary Paget disease.

CONCLUSION

Non-HPV-related malignancies are important differential diagnoses in patient with vulvar lesions. Additional research is necessary to further understand these complex malignancies and potential new therapeutic targets.

Molecular Alterations in Vaginal Melanomas: Report of 4 Cases and Literature Review

ABSTRACT

Melanomas of the female gynecological tract comprise approximately 18% of mucosal melanomas, a rare subtype of melanoma. Within the female genital tract, 70% of primary melanomas of the gynecological tract are from the vulva with the remainder occurring in the vagina and rarely, in the cervix. We investigate molecular alterations by next-generation sequencing-based molecular tests targeting 99 cancer genes and translocation/fusion assays in 4 and 3 vaginal melanomas, respectively. The ages of the 4 patients range from 65 to 90 years. Postmenopausal bleeding was the most common presenting symptom. Tumor size ranged from 0.5 to 6.6 cm. KIT L576P mutation was documented in case 1, whereas TP53 mutation was seen in cases 2 and 3 (L130F and Y163C). Case 2 also harbored NF2 E204Q and ATRX D1719H mutations. A number of gene copy alterations were noted in case 4, which included GNA11 loss, MYC gain, RET loss, SMO loss, SUFU loss, and TSC2 loss. No gene fusion was detected in any of the 3 tested cases. In conclusion, in addition to KIT, TP53, and ATRX mutations, which have been previously reported, our cases harbor NF2 mutation and multiple gene copy alterations that have not previously been documented in vaginal melanomas. These findings highlight the potential role of targeted therapy in this rare melanoma subtype.

A Report of a Rare Case of an Advanced Adult Granulosa Cell Tumor Initially Diagnosed as Primary Ovarian Melanoma

Ovarian granulosa cell tumors are rare gynecological cancers with favorable clinical evolution and survival outcomes. We report a new case of this presentation in a patient that was initially diagnosed as a bilateral primary melanoma of the ovary. The patient is a 51-year-old woman with a history of abdominal swelling and deterioration of her general conditions. Physical examination revealed abdominal distension and diffuse dullness with initially highly elevated cancer antigen 125. Contrast-enhanced thoracoabdominal-pelvic computed tomography showed a left-sided ovarian mass and abundant ascites and pleurisy. Ex-lap surgery found two large bilateral ovarian masses associated with peritoneal carcinomatosis and highly abundant ascites. The histopathological examination of the omental biopsy revealed an undifferentiated tumor proliferation of cells with highly positive Human Melanoma Black 45 marker in favor of an achromic malignant melanoma according to the pathologist. Because of her advanced disease, the patient received a combination of six cycles of neoadjuvant dacarbazine, cisplatin, and paclitaxel and showed partial response based on the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors, followed by total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with cytoreductive surgery. Unexpectedly, the histopathological analysis of the surgical specimens was in favor of an advanced adult granulosa cell tumor with positive inhibin B. Our patient is alive at her 13^th month of survival and is being followed by the oncology team. The challenges of the pathological diagnosis of this case are discussed. The diagnosis of primary ovarian melanoma should not be based on one immunohistochemical marker only. A single biopsy of omental implants in peritoneal carcinomatosis during ex-lap surgery should be avoided.

Predictive biomarkers and tumor microenvironment in female genital melanomas: a multi-institutional study of 55 cases

Female genital melanomas are rare. At diagnosis, most affected patients have advanced disease. Surgery remains the primary treatment, and adjuvant therapy is largely ineffective. Recently, immune checkpoints and the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway have been explored as treatment targets. However, evaluation of these biomarkers in genital melanomas is limited. We evaluated the clinicopathological features of 20 vulvar, 32 vaginal, and three cervical melanomas and assessed programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, CD8 tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte density, mismatch repair proteins, VE1 immunohistochemistry, and KIT and BRAF mutations. The median age of the patients was 66 years, and median tumor sizes were 25, 30, and 20 mm for vulvar, vaginal, and cervical tumors, respectively. Mean mitotic figures were 18, 19, and 30 per mm². Thirty-seven patients (67%) had operable tumors. After a median follow-up of 15 months, only nine patients (16%) were alive. Eight of the nine survivors did not have lymph node metastasis. Using 5% as the threshold, PD-L1 expression was observed in 55%, 50%, and 33% of vulvar, vaginal, and cervical tumors, respectively, when the Roche SP263 antibody was used and 20%, 53%, and 0%, respectively, when the Dako 28-8 antibody was used. The median CD8 tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte density was significantly higher in vulvar/vaginal than cervical melanomas and correlated with PD-L1 expression. No cases exhibited loss of mismatch repair proteins. Five cases harbored KIT mutations, three of which were hotspots. BRAF V600E mutation was not detected. Univariable analysis showed that tumor size greater than or equal to 33 mm, mitotic figures of greater than or equal to 10 per mm², lymph node metastasis, and low CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte density were adverse prognostic factors. Thus, patients with genital melanomas have a poor prognosis, and evaluation of multiple biomarkers is necessary to identify patients who may benefit from immunotherapy or targeted therapy.

Primary malignant melanoma of the uterine cervix or vagina which were successfully treated with nivolumab

Primary malignant melanomas (MM) originating from the gynecological tract are rare. They respond poorly to immunotherapy when compared with cutaneous MM. This study reports two cases. The first is of a 54-year-old woman with a cervical amelanotic polypoid mass who was diagnosed as having stage IB1 cervical melanoma according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics system. At 17 months post-surgery, a computed tomography examination revealed recurrence of a 68 mm pelvic tumor. The second case is of a 37-year-old woman with a 7 cm hemorrhagic mass on the vaginal wall. The patient was diagnosed as having stage IV vaginal melanoma according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer definition. Both patients received nivolumab therapy, programmed cell death receptor 1 monoclonal antibodies, and the tumors almost disappeared. These cases may add the possibility of using colposcopy with narrow-band imaging and positron-emission tomography to diagnose and evaluate primary MM.

Feasibility of Carbon Ion Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Gynecological Melanoma

BACKGROUND

Malignant melanoma of the lower genital tract is a rare disease known to have a poor prognosis. Because of the high rate of distant metastasis and unsatisfactory survival benefit, a more conservative treatment approach, instead of extensive surgery, may be warranted. Gynecological melanoma is a radioresistant tumor, an ideal disease to test the biological efficacy of carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT).

AIM

To report our preliminary experience with CIRT in the treatment of gynecological melanoma at the National Center of Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between January 2016 and February 2017, four patients were admitted for CIRT at CNAO. A case of cervical melanoma was treated with palliative aim because of large volume macroscopic disease, while three cases of vaginal melanoma were irradiated with a total dose of 68.8 Gy (relative biological effectiveness) in 16 fractions delivered over 4 weeks (4 days a week).

RESULTS

The age of women ranged between 49 and 72 (median=60.5 years) years. Treatment was well tolerated in all patients and all women completed the scheduled treatment course. During CIRT, toxicity was mild. For patients with vaginal disease, local control was 10.23 and 12.6 months, while that for cervical malignant melanoma was 7.3 months. All patients experienced systemic progression, with median distant metastasis-free survival of 11.7 months. The median overall survival for the whole patient group was 11.41 months.

CONCLUSION

In our first experiences, CIRT appears to be a safe non-invasive option for malignant melanoma of the lower genital tract, but more data and longer follow-up are necessary in order to evaluate the effectiveness and late effects.

Studies on the treatment of melanoma with folate acid conjugated dextran and lauryl alcohol loaded with IMD0354

Background: IMD-0354 is a kind of hydrophobic small molecule inhibitor of IKKβ, which can effectively inhibit the NF-κB pathway. Besides, IMD-0354 can inhibit a variety of tumor cells in culture, but its poor water solubility and low utilization have limited its clinical application. Methods: In this study, IMD-0354 was synthesized through esterifying the folate acid (FA) conjugated dextran (Dex) as well as the lauryl alcohol (LA). Results:The particle (IMD/FA-Dex-LA) size was 212.13±10.62nm, the encapsulation efficiency was 89.27±6.51%, and the drug loading was 4.25±0.42%. Cell viability studies indicated that the IMD/FA-Dex-LA effectively inhibited survival of B16F10 cells in culture. Meanwhile, Western Blotting results showed that the nuclear transport of NF-κB was reduced after blocking the IKK pathway, which would thereby suppress melanoma cell division and proliferation. Moreover, subcutaneous tumor implantation experiment revealed that, the drug-loading complex had an obvious effect on suppressing melanoma cells. Findings of this study demonstrated that the IMD-0354 loaded FA-Dex-LA was more effective than IMD-0354 alone. Conclusion: In summary, FA-Dex-LA has been successfully synthesized in this study, which can serve as a carrier for hydrophobic drug. Further, it is believed the FA-Dex-LA can potentially applied in cancer treatment.