Isolated Hepatic Perfusion With Melphalan for Patients With Isolated Uveal Melanoma Liver Metastases: A Multicenter, Randomized, Open-Label, Phase III Trial (the SCANDIUM Trial)

Meeting Report From the 2023 Cure Ocular Melanoma (CURE OM) Global Science Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, November 2023

The 2023 Cure Ocular Melanoma (CURE OM) Global Science Meeting was held in Philadelphia on November 6, 2023. There is increased awareness and dedicated research in uveal melanoma (UM), but unmet needs remain in the prevention, detection, and treatment of UM. The purpose of this meeting was to provide an international forum for the exchange of research ideas, to allow for discussion of basic science as well as clinical research on UM, and to gather input about advocacy and patient needs.

A Clinico-Genetic Score Incorporating Disease-Free Intervals and Chromosome 8q Copy Numbers: A Novel Prognostic Marker for Recurrence and Survival Following Liver Resection in Patients with Liver Metastases of Uveal Melanoma

Surgical treatment of liver metastases of uveal melanoma (LMUM) could be proposed for selected patients. This retrospective study examined the prognostic significance of the genetic profiles of liver metastases after LMUM resection. A total of 86 patients treated with resection for LMUM, who underwent genetic analysis of liver metastasis, were included. A multivariable Cox model identified the independent predictors of recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). The disease-free interval (DFI) and a chromosome 8q surgain (>3 copies) were independent predictors and categorized patients into three risk groups with distinct postoperative prognoses. For the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk scores of recurrence, the median RFS values were 15 months (95% CI: 10-22), 6 months (95% CI: 4-11), and 4 months (95% CI: 2-7), and the median OS values were 86 months (95% CI: 55-NR), 25 months (95% CI: 17-48), and 19 months (95% CI: 12-22), respectively. The predictive accuracy of this scoring system was demonstrated by a mean area under the curve (AUC(t)) of 0.77 (95% CI: 0.65-0.90) for RFS and 0.81 (95% CI: 0.70-0.92) for OS. This novel score, based on a DFI of ≤24 months combined with a chromosome 8q surgain, identifies patients at a high risk of early recurrence and could help clinicians to propose perioperative treatment.

Patient-derived xenografts and single-cell sequencing identifies three subtypes of tumor-reactive lymphocytes in uveal melanoma metastases

Uveal melanoma (UM) is a rare melanoma originating in the eye's uvea, with 50% of patients experiencing metastasis predominantly in the liver. In contrast to cutaneous melanoma, there is only a limited effectiveness of combined immune checkpoint therapies, and half of patients with uveal melanoma metastases succumb to disease within 2 years. This study aimed to provide a path toward enhancing immunotherapy efficacy by identifying and functionally validating tumor-reactive T cells in liver metastases of patients with UM. We employed single-cell RNA-seq of biopsies and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) to identify potential tumor-reactive T cells. Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of UM metastases were created from patients, and tumor sphere cultures were generated from these models for co-culture with autologous or MART1-specific HLA-matched allogenic TILs. Activated T cells were subjected to TCR-seq, and the TCRs were matched to those found in single-cell sequencing data from biopsies, expanded TILs, and in livers or spleens of PDX models injected with TILs. Our findings revealed that tumor-reactive T cells resided not only among activated and exhausted subsets of T cells, but also in a subset of cytotoxic effector cells. In conclusion, combining single-cell sequencing and functional analysis provides valuable insights into which T cells in UM may be useful for cell therapy amplification and marker selection.

Advances in the management of regionally metastatic melanoma

Despite numerous developments in systemic therapy, the prognosis for patients with locoregionally advanced melanoma remains poor. By delivering therapy directly to the targeted area via intralesional injections or intra-arterial isolated infusions, systemic side effects are minimized and oncolytic agents are delivered more directly and effectively to the melanoma. There has been significant progress in recent years with intralesional agents such as Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC), PV-10 and TAVOkinase/electrocorporation as well as advances in infusional therapies such as percutaneous hepatic perfusion (PHP) for hepatic metastasis of ocular melanoma. This review evaluates advances in intralesional and infusional therapies for melanoma while limiting discussion to those therapies currently approved and on trial.

The Current State of Systemic Therapy of Metastatic Uveal Melanoma

Uveal melanoma (UM) is genetically a distinct tumor compared to cutaneous melanoma (CM), and due to its low mutational burden, it is far less perceptible to the immune system. Thus, treatments that have revolutionized the treatment of CM remain widely inefficient in metastatic UM or only demonstrate effectiveness in a small subpopulation of patients. To this end, the therapeutic benefit of immune checkpoint blockade is very limited and may come at the expense of severe immune-related adverse events that could potentially affect all organ systems. Notably, tebentafusp, an entirely novel class of anti-cancer drugs, has received official authorization for the treatment of metastatic UM. It is the first agent that demonstrated a survival advantage in a randomized controlled trial of metastatic UM patients. Despite the survival benefit and approval, the restriction of tebentafusp to HLA-A*02:01-positive patients and the low objective response rate indicate the persistent need for additional therapies. Thus, liver-directed therapies are commonly used for tumor control of hepatic metastases and represent a central pillar of the daily management of liver-dominant disease. Further, promising data from targeted therapies independent of MEK-inhibitors, such as the combination of darovasertib and crizotinib, raise hope for additional options in metastatic UM in the future. This narrative review provides a timely and comprehensive overview of the current treatment landscape for metastatic UM.

Efficacy and Safety of the Melphalan/Hepatic Delivery System in Patients with Unresectable Metastatic Uveal Melanoma: Results from an Open-Label, Single-Arm, Multicenter Phase 3 Study

BACKGROUND

Uveal melanoma (UM) has a poor prognosis once liver metastases occur. The melphalan/Hepatic Delivery System (melphalan/HDS) is a drug/device combination used for liver-directed treatment of metastatic UM (mUM) patients. The purpose of the FOCUS study was to assess the efficacy and safety of melphalan/HDS in patients with unresectable mUM.

METHODS

Eligible patients with mUM received treatment with melphalan (3.0 mg/kg ideal body weight) once every 6 to 8 weeks for a maximum of six cycles. The primary end point was the objective response rate (ORR). The secondary end points included duration of response (DOR), overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

The study enrolled 102 patients with mUM. Treatment was attempted in 95 patients, and 91 patients received treatment. In the treated population (n = 91), the ORR was 36.3 % (95 % confidence interval [CI], 26.44-47.01), including 7.7 % of patients with a complete response. Thus, the study met its primary end point because the lower bound of the 95 % CI for ORR exceeded the upper bound (8.3 %) from the benchmark meta-analysis. The median DOR was 14 months, and the median OS was 20.5 months, with an OS of 80 % at 1 year. The median PFS was 9 months, with a PFS of 65 % at 6 months. The most common serious treatment-emergent adverse events were thrombocytopenia (15.8 %) and neutropenia (10.5 %), treated mostly on an outpatient basis with observation. No treatment-related deaths were observed.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with melphalan/HDS provides a clinically meaningful response rate and demonstrates a favorable benefit-risk profile in patients with unresectable mUM (study funded by Delcath; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02678572; EudraCT no. 2015-000417-44).

A phase Ib randomized multicenter trial of isolated hepatic perfusion in combination with ipilimumab and nivolumab for uveal melanoma metastases (SCANDIUM II trial)

BACKGROUND

Uveal melanoma (UM) is a rare malignancy where 50% of patients develop metastatic disease primarily affecting the liver. Approximately 40% of patients with metastatic UM respond to one-time isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP) with high-dose melphalan. This phase I trial investigates the safety and clinical efficacy of IHP combined with ipilimumab (IPI) and nivolumab (NIVO).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Immunotherapy-naïve patients were randomized in this phase I trial to receive either IHP followed by IPI 3 mg/kg and NIVO 1 mg/kg (IPI3/NIVO1) for four cycles (post-operative arm), or one cycle of preoperative IPI3/NIVO1, IHP and then three cycles of IPI3/NIVO1 (pre-post-operative arm), followed by maintenance therapy with NIVO 480 mg for 1 year.

RESULTS

Eighteen patients were enrolled and randomized. Three patients did not undergo IHP as planned. In total, 11/18 patients (6 in the post-operative arm and 5 in the pre-post-operative arm) did not complete the planned four cycles of IPI3/NIVO1. Toxicity to IHP was similar in both groups, but the number of immune-related adverse events (AEs) was higher in the pre-post-operative arm. Among assessable patients, overall response rate was 57% in the post-operative arm (4/7) and 22% in the pre-post-operative arm (2/9).

CONCLUSIONS

Combination therapy with IHP and IPI3/NIVO1 was associated with severe AEs. The efficacy of this combination is encouraging with high response rates. One cycle of preoperative IPI/NIVO before IHP did not show potential benefits in terms of safety or efficacy.

Quality of Life Analysis of Patients Treated with Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion for Uveal Melanoma Liver Metastases

PURPOSE

Percutaneous hepatic perfusion with melphalan (M-PHP) is a minimally invasive therapy with proven efficacy in patients with uveal melanoma (UM) liver metastases. M-PHP is associated with a short hospital admission time and limited systemic side effects. In this study, we assessed quality of life (QoL) in UM patients treated with M-PHP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective, single-center study including 24 patients treated with M-PHP for UM metastases to the liver. QoL questionnaires were collected at baseline, on day 2/3 after M-PHP, and on day 7 and day 21 after M-PHP, according to study protocol. The results were scored according to EORTC-QLQ C30 global health status (GHS), functional scales, and symptom scales. The difference in scores at baseline and subsequent time points was analyzed with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and multiple testing Bonferroni correction. Adverse events (AE) were registered up to 30 days after M-PHP according to CTCAE v5.0.

RESULTS

Twenty-four patients (14 males; median age 63.0 years) completed 96 questionnaires. Most scores on all scales declined on day 2/3 after M-PHP. On day 21 after M-PHP, 12 out of 15 scores returned to baseline, including median GHS scores. Three variables were significantly worse on day 21 compared to baseline: fatigue (6-33; p = 0.002), physical functioning (100 vs 86.7; p = 0.003), and role functioning (100 vs 66.7; p = 0.001). Grade 3/4 AEs consisted mainly of hematological complications, such as leukopenia and thrombopenia.

CONCLUSION

M-PHP causes fatigue and a decline in physical and role functioning in the 1st weeks after treatment, but GHS returns to baseline levels within 21 days. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3: Cohort study.

Intralesional and Infusional Updates for Metastatic Melanoma

Locoregionally advanced and metastatic melanoma represent a challenging clinical problem, but in the era of immune checkpoint blockade and intralesional and infusional therapies, more options are available for use. Isolated limb infusion (ILI) was first introduced in the 1990s for the management of advanced melanoma, followed by the utilization of isolated extremity perfusion (ILP). Following this, intralesional oncolytic viruses, xanthene dyes, and cytokines were introduced for the management of in-transit metastases as well as unresectable, advanced melanoma. In 2015, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first oncolytic intralesional therapy, talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC), for the treatment of advanced melanoma. Additionally, immune checkpoint inhibition has demonstrated efficacy in the management of advanced melanomas, and this improvement in outcomes has been extrapolated to aid in the management of in-transit metastatic disease. Finally, percutaneous hepatic perfusion (PHP), also approved by the FDA, has been reported to have a significant impact on the treatment of hepatic disease in uveal melanoma. While some of these treatments have less utility due to inferior outcomes as well as higher toxicity profiles, there are selective patient profiles for which these therapies carry a role. This review highlights intralesional and infusional therapies for the management of metastatic melanoma.

Case report: Immunotherapy inducing unexpected overall survival in choroidal melanoma: about a case

Choroidal melanoma (CM) is the most common malignant ocular tumor in adults. The current treatment of metastatic CM is limited by the intrinsic resistance of CM to conventional systemic therapies. Immunotherapy alone or in association with cytotoxic treatment became a realist option treatment. Advancements in molecular biology have resulted in the identification of a number of promising prognostic and therapeutic targets. Herein, we report a rare case of 36-year-old patient with metastatic CM who presented a good long response to treatment with double immunotherapy reaching 3 years of overall survival, which has never been described in the literature.

The treatment of advanced melanoma: Current approaches and new challenges

In recent years, advances in melanoma treatment have renewed patient hope. This comprehensive review emphasizes the evolving treatment landscape, particularly highlighting first-line strategies and the interplay between immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and targeted therapies. Ipilimumab plus nivolumab has achieved the best median overall survival, exceeding 70 months. However, the introduction of new ICIs, like relatlimab, has added complexity to first-line therapy decisions. Our aim is to guide clinicians in making personalized treatment decisions. Various features, including brain metastases, PD-L1 expression, BRAF mutation, performance status, and prior adjuvant therapy, significantly impact the direction of advanced melanoma treatment. We also provide the latest insights into the treatment of rare melanoma subtypes, such as uveal melanoma, where tebentafusp has shown promising improvements in overall survival for metastatic uveal melanoma patients. This review provides invaluable insights for clinicians, enabling informed treatment choices and deepening our understanding of the multifaceted challenges associated with advanced melanoma management.

Lineage commitment pathways epigenetically oppose oncogenic Gαq/11-YAP signaling in dormant disseminated uveal melanoma

The mechanisms driving late relapse in uveal melanoma (UM) patients remains a medical mystery and major challenge. Clinically it is inferred that UM disseminated cancer cells (DCCs) persist asymptomatic for years-to-decades mainly in the liver before they manifest as symptomatic metastasis. Here we reveal using Gαq/11 mut /BAP wt human uveal melanoma models and human UM metastatic samples, that the neural crest lineage commitment nuclear receptor NR2F1 is a key regulator of spontaneous UM DCC dormancy in the liver. Using a quiescence reporter, RNA-seq and multiplex imaging we revealed that rare dormant UM DCCs upregulate NR2F1 expression and genes related to neural crest programs while repressing gene related to cell cycle progression. Gain and loss of function assays showed that NR2F1 silences YAP1/TEAD1 transcription downstream of Gαq/11 signaling and that NR2F1 expression can also be repressed by YAP1. YAP1 expression is repressed by NR2F1 binding to its promoter and changing the histone H3 tail activation marks to repress YAP1 transcription. In vivo CRISPR KO of NR2F1 led dormant UM DCCs to awaken and initiate relentless liver metastatic growth. Cut&Run and bulk RNA sequencing further confirmed that NR2F1 epigenetically stimulates neuron axon guidance and neural lineage programs, and it globally represses gene expression linked to G-protein signaling to drive dormancy. Pharmacological inhibition of Gαq/11 mut signaling resulted in NR2F1 upregulation and robust UM growth arrest, which was also achieved using a novel NR2F1 agonist. Our work sheds light on the molecular underpinnings of UM dormancy revealing that transcriptional programs driven by NR2F1 epigenetically short-circuit Gαq/11 signaling to its downstream target YAP1.

Highlights

Quiescent solitary uveal melanoma (UM) DCCs in the liver up- and down-regulate neural crest and cell cycle progression programs, respectively.NR2F1 drives solitary UM DCC dormancy by antagonizing the Gαq/11-YAP1 pathway; small molecule Gαq/11 inhibition restores NR2F1 expression and quiescence. NR2F1 short-circuits oncogenic YAP1 and G-protein signaling via a chromatin remodeling program. Loss of function of NR2F1 in dormant UM DCCs leads to aggressive liver metastasis.

Graphical abstract

Updates in the Management of Uveal Melanoma

ABSTRACT

Uveal melanoma (UM), arising from intraocular melanocytes, poses a complex clinical challenge with a substantial risk of distant metastasis, often to the liver. Molecular profiling, encompassing genetic, cytogenetic, gene expression, and immunological subsets, plays a pivotal role in determining prognoses. The evolving landscape includes promising systemic treatments, such as tebentafusp, a novel immune-modulating bispecific fusion protein, and targeted therapies. Combined regional and systemic approaches, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and innovative liver-directed therapy, are also under investigation. Although recent progress has improved outcomes, ongoing research aims to address the unique challenges of UM and develop effective therapies, particularly for HLA-A*02:01-negative patients who represent a significant unmet medical need. This review comprehensively discusses the molecular characteristics of UM, risk stratification methods, and the current and future spectrum of regional and systemic therapeutic modalities.

The Role of Autophagy in Human Uveal Melanoma and the Development of Potential Disease Biomarkers and Novel Therapeutic Paradigms

Autophagy is a form of programmed cell degradation that enables the maintenance of homeostasis in response to extracellular stress stimuli. Autophagy is primarily activated by starvation and mediates the degradation, removal, or recycling of cell cytoplasm, organelles, and intracellular components in eukaryotic cells. Autophagy is also involved in the pathogenesis of human diseases, including several cancers. Human uveal melanoma (UM) is the primary intraocular malignancy in adults and has an extremely poor prognosis; at present there are no effective therapies. Several studies have suggested that autophagy is important in UM. By understanding the mechanisms of activation of autophagy in UM it may be possible to develop biomarkers to provide more definitive disease prognoses and to identify potential drug targets for the development of new therapeutic strategies. This article reviews the current information regarding autophagy in UM that could facilitate biomarker and drug development.

Recent approaches for the treatment of uveal melanoma: Opportunities and challenges

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most prevalent primary intraocular cancer in adult population. Primary methods for treatment of UM involves surgery Proton Beam Therapy (PBT), Plaque Brachytherapy, phototherapy, and Charged Particle Radiation Therapy (CPT). It has been found that approximately 50 % of patients diagnosed with UM ultimately experience development of metastatic disease. Furthermore, it has been identified that majority of the patient experience metastasis in liver with a prevalence of 95 %. Management of metastatic UM (MUM) involves various therapeutic modalities, including systemic chemotherapy, molecular targeted therapy, immunotherapy and liver directed interventions. We outline gene mutation in UM and addresses various treatment modalities, including molecular targeted therapy, miRNA-based therapy, and immunotherapy. Additionally, inclusion of ongoing clinical trials aimed at developing novel therapeutic options for management of UM are also mentioned.

Management of Uveal Melanoma: Updated Cancer Care Alberta Clinical Practice Guideline

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this guideline update is to reassess and update recommendations in the prior guideline from 2016 on the appropriate management of patients with uveal melanoma.

METHODS

In 2021, a multidisciplinary working group from the Provincial Cutaneous Tumour Team, Cancer Care Alberta, Alberta Health Services was convened to update the guideline. A comprehensive review of new research evidence in PubMed as well as new clinical practice guidelines from prominent oncology groups informed the update. An enhancement in methodology included adding levels of evidence and strength of recommendations. The updated guideline was circulated to all members of the Provincial Cutaneous Tumour Team for review and endorsement.

RESULTS

New and modified recommendations address provider training requirements, diagnostic imaging for the detection of metastases, neo-adjuvant pre-enucleation radiotherapy, intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents for radiation retinopathy, genetic prognostic testing, surveillance following definitive local therapy, and systemic therapy for patients with metastatic uveal melanoma.

DISCUSSION

The recommendations represent evidence-based standards of care agreed to by a large multidisciplinary group of healthcare professionals.

Surveillance for Metastasis in High-Risk Uveal Melanoma Patients: Standard versus Enhanced Protocols

PURPOSE

to evaluate the effectiveness of enhanced surveillance protocols (EP) utilizing high frequency (HF) or enhanced modality (EM) compared to the standard protocol (SP) in detecting metastasis and determining their impact on overall survival (OS) in high-risk uveal melanoma (UM) patients.

METHODS

A total of 87 consecutive patients with Class 2 (high risk) primary UM were enrolled, with negative baseline systemic staging. The patients underwent systemic surveillance with either SP (hepatic ultrasonography [US] every 6 months) or EP (either HF [US every 3 months] or EM [incorporation hepatic computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging]) following informed discussion. The main outcome measures were largest diameter of largest hepatic metastasis (LDLM), number of hepatic metastatic lesions, time to detection of metastasis (TDM), and OS.

RESULTS

This study revealed significant differences in LDLM between surveillance protocols, with the use of EP detecting smaller metastatic lesions (HF, EM, and SP were 1.5 cm, 1.6 cm, and 6.1 cm, respectively). Patients on the EM protocol had a lower 24-month cumulative incidence of >3 cm metastasis (3.5% EM vs. 39% SP; p = 0.021), while those on the HF protocol had a higher 24-month cumulative incidence of ≤3 cm metastasis compared to SP (31% HF vs. 10% SP; p = 0.017). Hazard of death following metastasis was significantly reduced in the EP (HR: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.84), HF (HR: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.84), and EM (HR: 0.11; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.5) groups compared to SP. However, TDM and OS did not significantly differ between protocols.

CONCLUSIONS

Enhanced surveillance protocols improved early detection of hepatic metastasis in UM patients but did not translate into a survival advantage in our study cohort. However, early detection of metastasis in patients receiving liver-directed therapies may lead to improved overall survival.

DSE inhibits melanoma progression by regulating tumor immune cell infiltration and VCAN

Dermatan sulfate epimerase (DSE) is a C5 epiminase that plays a key role in converting chondroitin sulfate into dermal sulfate. DSE is often upregulated during carcinogenesis of some types of cancer and can regulate growth factor signaling in cancer cells. However, the expression and function of DSE in human melanoma have not been reported. In this study, we investigated the influence of tumor-derived DSE in melanoma progression and the potential mechanism of their action. First, proteomic analysis of collected melanoma tissues revealed that DSE was significantly down-regulated in melanoma tissues. DSE silenced or overexpressed melanoma cells were constructed to detect the effect of DSE on melanoma cells, and it was found that the up-regulation of DSE significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of melanoma cells. Data analysis and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the immune subpopulations in tumors, and it was found that the high expression of DSE was closely related to the invasion of killer immune cells. Mechanistically, DSE promoted the expression of VCAN, which inhibited the biological activity of melanoma cells. Together, these results suggest that DSE is downregulated in melanoma tissues, and that high expression of DSE can promote melanoma progression by inducing immune cell infiltration and VCAN expression.

Uveal melanoma: In the era of new treatments

Uveal melanoma (UM), also known as choroidal melanoma, is the leading adult intraocular tumor worldwide, affecting mainly Caucasian populations. The last decade has seen an improvement in the outcome of these tumors at the localized stage, in favor of conservative treatment of the eye, notably with new radioactive treatment techniques. Despite optimal management, half of the patients will become metastatic, with liver involvement in 90% of cases. The prognosis is pejorative and considers clinical, tumor anatomy, histological and molecular parameters. This review provides a broad overview of the different therapeutic options for the management of localized or metastatic UM disease, with recently updated data. Despite the known limited efficacy of chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), we discuss the first results of combined immunotherapies, the arrival of a new first-in-class immunomodulatory treatment Tebentafusp, in HLA-A*02:01 patients, avenues of research into targeted anti-tyrosine kinase therapies, and the growing use of ctDNA to guide treatment prescription.

A safety review of recently approved and late-stage trial treatments for metastatic melanoma: systemic and regional therapies

INTRODUCTION

Advanced melanoma accounts for the majority of skin cancer-associated deaths. Over the past 15 years, there has been a dramatic change in the treatment options and prognosis for patients with advanced melanoma secondary to the development of novel systemic immunotherapies (IO) and targeted therapies. In addition to these novel systemic therapies, regional therapies (intralesional and perfusional) also continue to play a major role in the management of these patients.

AREAS COVERED

In this article, we review recent updates in the management of advanced melanoma via Medline (PubMed) and Google Scholar, including recently published trials in the metastatic, adjuvant, and neoadjuvant settings. We also review recently published trials for regional therapies and discuss future directions in the management of patients with advanced melanoma.

EXPERT OPINION

A significant portion of patients with advanced melanoma will develop recurrent or progressive disease following treatment with IO or targeted therapy. Therefore, identifying not only the appropriate therapeutic agent but also the sequence and duration of treatment is pivotal for these patients.