1
|
Steininger J, Gellrich FF, Engellandt K, Meinhardt M, Westphal D, Beissert S, Meier F, Glitza Oliva IC. Leptomeningeal Metastases in Melanoma Patients: An Update on and Future Perspectives for Diagnosis and Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11443. [PMID: 37511202 PMCID: PMC10380419 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) is a devastating complication of cancer with a particularly poor prognosis. Among solid tumours, malignant melanoma (MM) has one of the highest rates of metastasis to the leptomeninges, with approximately 10-15% of patients with advanced disease developing LMD. Tumour cells that metastasise to the brain have unique properties that allow them to cross the blood-brain barrier, evade the immune system, and survive in the brain microenvironment. Metastatic colonisation is achieved through dynamic communication between metastatic cells and the tumour microenvironment, resulting in a tumour-permissive milieu. Despite advances in treatment options, the incidence of LMD appears to be increasing and current treatment modalities have a limited impact on survival. This review provides an overview of the biology of LMD, diagnosis and current treatment approaches for MM patients with LMD, and an overview of ongoing clinical trials. Despite the still limited efficacy of current therapies, there is hope that emerging treatments will improve the outcomes for patients with LMD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julian Steininger
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität (TU) Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Frank Friedrich Gellrich
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität (TU) Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Kay Engellandt
- Department of Neuroradiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität (TU) Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Matthias Meinhardt
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität (TU) Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Dana Westphal
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität (TU) Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefan Beissert
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität (TU) Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Friedegund Meier
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität (TU) Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Skin Cancer Center at the University Cancer Center, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC), 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Isabella C Glitza Oliva
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Becco P, Gallo S, Poletto S, Frascione MPM, Crotto L, Zaccagna A, Paruzzo L, Caravelli D, Carnevale-Schianca F, Aglietta M. Melanoma Brain Metastases in the Era of Target Therapies: An Overview. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12061640. [PMID: 32575838 PMCID: PMC7352598 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12061640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is the third most common type of tumor that causes brain metastases. Patients with cerebral involvement have a dismal prognosis and their treatment is an unmet medical need. Brain involvement is a multistep process involving several signaling pathways such as Janus kinase/signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (JAK/STAT), Phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Protein Kinase B (PI3K/AKT), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN). Recently therapy that targets the MAPK signaling (BRAF/MEK inhibitors) and immunotherapy (anti-CTLA4 and anti-PD1 agents) have changed the therapeutic approaches to stage IV melanoma. In contrast, there are no solid data about patients with brain metastases, who are usually excluded from clinical trials. Retrospective data showed that BRAF-inhibitors, alone or in combination with MEK-inhibitors have interesting clinical activity in this setting. Prospective data about the combinations of BRAF/MEK inhibitors have been recently published, showing an improved overall response rate. Short intracranial disease control is still a challenge. Several attempts have been made in order to improve it with combinations between local and systemic therapies. Immunotherapy approaches seem to retain promising activity in the treatment of melanoma brain metastasis as showed by the results of clinical trials investigating the combination of anti-CTL4 (Ipilimumab) and anti-PD1(Nivolumab). Studies about the combination or the sequential approach of target therapy and immunotherapy are ongoing, with immature results. Several clinical trials are ongoing trying to explore new approaches in order to overcome tumor resistance. At this moment the correct therapeutic choices for melanoma with intracranial involvement is still a challenge and new strategies are needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Becco
- Istituto di Candiolo, FPO - IRCCS - Str. Prov.le 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (P.B.); (S.P.); (M.P.M.F.); (L.C.); (A.Z.); (L.P.); (D.C.); (F.C.-S.); (M.A.)
| | - Susanna Gallo
- Ospedale Mauriziano Umberto I-Largo Turati 62, 10128 Torino, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Stefano Poletto
- Istituto di Candiolo, FPO - IRCCS - Str. Prov.le 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (P.B.); (S.P.); (M.P.M.F.); (L.C.); (A.Z.); (L.P.); (D.C.); (F.C.-S.); (M.A.)
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10124 Torino, Italy
| | - Mirko Pio Manlio Frascione
- Istituto di Candiolo, FPO - IRCCS - Str. Prov.le 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (P.B.); (S.P.); (M.P.M.F.); (L.C.); (A.Z.); (L.P.); (D.C.); (F.C.-S.); (M.A.)
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10124 Torino, Italy
| | - Luca Crotto
- Istituto di Candiolo, FPO - IRCCS - Str. Prov.le 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (P.B.); (S.P.); (M.P.M.F.); (L.C.); (A.Z.); (L.P.); (D.C.); (F.C.-S.); (M.A.)
| | - Alessandro Zaccagna
- Istituto di Candiolo, FPO - IRCCS - Str. Prov.le 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (P.B.); (S.P.); (M.P.M.F.); (L.C.); (A.Z.); (L.P.); (D.C.); (F.C.-S.); (M.A.)
| | - Luca Paruzzo
- Istituto di Candiolo, FPO - IRCCS - Str. Prov.le 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (P.B.); (S.P.); (M.P.M.F.); (L.C.); (A.Z.); (L.P.); (D.C.); (F.C.-S.); (M.A.)
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10124 Torino, Italy
| | - Daniela Caravelli
- Istituto di Candiolo, FPO - IRCCS - Str. Prov.le 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (P.B.); (S.P.); (M.P.M.F.); (L.C.); (A.Z.); (L.P.); (D.C.); (F.C.-S.); (M.A.)
| | - Fabrizio Carnevale-Schianca
- Istituto di Candiolo, FPO - IRCCS - Str. Prov.le 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (P.B.); (S.P.); (M.P.M.F.); (L.C.); (A.Z.); (L.P.); (D.C.); (F.C.-S.); (M.A.)
| | - Massimo Aglietta
- Istituto di Candiolo, FPO - IRCCS - Str. Prov.le 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo, Italy; (P.B.); (S.P.); (M.P.M.F.); (L.C.); (A.Z.); (L.P.); (D.C.); (F.C.-S.); (M.A.)
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10124 Torino, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Schmieder K, Keilholz U, Combs S. The Interdisciplinary Management of Brain Metastases. DEUTSCHES ARZTEBLATT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 113:415-21. [PMID: 27380757 DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2016.0415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2015] [Revised: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND 20-40% of patients with malignant tumors have one or more brain metastases in the course of their illness. Brain metastases are the first manifestation of cancer in 5-10%. Manifestations such as intracranial hypertension or focal neurologic deficits are seen in over 80% of patients with brain metastases. Uncertainty surrounds the treatment of patients with intracranial metastases, as the existing data are derived from trials with low levels of evidence. METHODS This article is based on a selective literature review and on the authors' own experience of 100 consecutive patients who underwent surgery at the Department of Neurosurgery at Ruhr University Bochum (RUB), Germany. RESULTS Multimodal treatment enables successful surgery for an increasing number of patients with brain metastases. The modalities and goals of treatment are established for each patient individually by an interdisciplinary tumor board. Drug therapy is usually indicated. Surgical resection followed by stereotactic radiotherapy prolongs mean survival by 3-6 months and lowers the risk of recurrence from 40% to 12.5%. In the authors' own experience, even seriously ill patients can benefit from the resection of brain metastases. The 30-day morbidity was 29%, accounted for mainly by medical complications such as pulmonary embolism, renal failure, and sepsis. CONCLUSION Through the close interdisciplinary collaboration of neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists, the symptomatic state and the prognosis of patients with brain metastases can be improved. Longer overall survival implies that further studies will have to pay special attention to the toxicity of treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Schmieder
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ruhr University Bochum, Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center, Berlin, Department of Radiation Oncology, Technical University of Munich
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Seifert H, Hirata E, Gore M, Khabra K, Messiou C, Larkin J, Sahai E. Extrinsic factors can mediate resistance to BRAF inhibition in central nervous system melanoma metastases. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2016; 29:92-100. [PMID: 26414886 PMCID: PMC4737278 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Here, we retrospectively review imaging of 68 consecutive unselected patients with BRAF V600-mutant metastatic melanoma for organ-specific response and progression on vemurafenib. Complete or partial responses were less often seen in the central nervous system (CNS) (36%) and bone (16%) compared to lung (89%), subcutaneous (83%), spleen (71%), liver (85%) and lymph nodes/soft tissue (83%), P < 0.001. CNS was also the most common site of progression. Based on this, we tested in vitro the efficacy of the BRAF inhibitors PLX4720 and dabrafenib in the presence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Exogenous CSF dramatically reduced cell death in response to both BRAF inhibitors. Effective cell killing was restored by co-administration of a PI-3 kinase inhibitor. We conclude that the efficacy of vemurafenib is variable in different organs with CNS being particularly prone to resistance. Extrinsic factors, such as ERK- and PI3K-activating factors in CSF, may mediate BRAF inhibitor resistance in the CNS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heike Seifert
- Department of Medical OncologyRoyal Marsden NHS TrustLondonUK
| | - Eishu Hirata
- Tumour Cell Biology LaboratoryThe Francis Crick InstituteLondonUK
- Department of Oncologic PathologyKanazawa Medical UniversityKahoku‐gunIshikawaJapan
| | - Martin Gore
- Department of Medical OncologyRoyal Marsden NHS TrustLondonUK
| | - Komel Khabra
- Department of Medical OncologyRoyal Marsden NHS TrustLondonUK
| | | | - James Larkin
- Department of Medical OncologyRoyal Marsden NHS TrustLondonUK
| | - Erik Sahai
- Tumour Cell Biology LaboratoryThe Francis Crick InstituteLondonUK
| |
Collapse
|