2024
GP100 expression is variable in intensity in melanoma
Mann J, Hasson N, Su D, Adeniran A, Smalley K, Djureinovic D, Jilaveanu L, Schoenfeld D, Kluger H. GP100 expression is variable in intensity in melanoma. Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy 2024, 73: 191. PMID: 39105816, PMCID: PMC11303354, DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03776-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGp100 expressionCutaneous melanomaTreatment of cutaneous melanomaAdvanced cutaneous melanomaT-cell engagersImprove patient selectionMetastatic melanomaUveal melanomaMetastatic samplesPatient selectionClinical trialsMelanomaQuantitative immunofluorescence methodGp100Improve outcomesImmunofluorescence methodTherapeutic intentDrugCellular productsExpressionTebentafuspImmunohistochemistryMelanocortin-1 Receptor Expression as a Marker of Progression in Melanoma
Su D, Djureinovic D, Schoenfeld D, Marquez-Nostra B, Olino K, Jilaveanu L, Kluger H. Melanocortin-1 Receptor Expression as a Marker of Progression in Melanoma. JCO Precision Oncology 2024, 8: e2300702. PMID: 38662983, PMCID: PMC11513442, DOI: 10.1200/po.23.00702.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMC1R expressionMelanoma progressionAssociated with shorter survivalStages of melanoma progressionCases of benign neviChronic sun exposureMarkers of progressionHuman melanoma tissuesBreslow thicknessMelanocortin-1Metastatic melanomaOverall survivalPrimary melanomaMetastatic tumorsMelanoma cohortReceptor expressionPredictive biomarkersAggressive melanomaPrimary lesionTissue microarrayShorter survivalMale sexQuantitative immunofluorescenceBenign neviClinical trialsVascular mimicry as a facilitator of melanoma brain metastasis
Provance O, Oria V, Tran T, Caulfield J, Zito C, Aguirre-Ducler A, Schalper K, Kluger H, Jilaveanu L. Vascular mimicry as a facilitator of melanoma brain metastasis. Cellular And Molecular Life Sciences 2024, 81: 188. PMID: 38635031, PMCID: PMC11026261, DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05217-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVascular mimicryBrain metastasesMouse model of metastatic melanomaIncreased risk of metastasisAssociated with tumor volumeMelanoma brain metastasesRisk of metastasisSurvival of miceFuture treatment regimensCell line modelsTumor suppressor pathwayMetastatic melanomaTumor volumeSolid tumorsTreatment regimensTumor typesPoor prognosisHippo tumor suppressor pathwayIncreased riskMouse modelDownstream targets YAPMelanomaMetastasisSuppressor pathwayTumorDigital spatial proteomic profiling reveals immune checkpoints as biomarkers in lymphoid aggregates and tumor microenvironment of desmoplastic melanoma
Su D, Schoenfeld D, Ibrahim W, Cabrejo R, Djureinovic D, Baumann R, Rimm D, Khan S, Halaban R, Kluger H, Olino K, Galan A, Clune J. Digital spatial proteomic profiling reveals immune checkpoints as biomarkers in lymphoid aggregates and tumor microenvironment of desmoplastic melanoma. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2024, 12: e008646. PMID: 38519058, PMCID: PMC10961546, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008646.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCTLA-4 expression levelsCancer-associated fibroblastsAssociated with worse survivalExpression of immune checkpointsLAG-3 expressionDesmoplastic melanomaLymphoid aggregatesCTLA-4PD-1Immune checkpointsIntratumoral leukocytesLAG-3Tumor compartmentsWorse survivalCD20+B cellsIncreased expression of immune checkpointsProgrammed cell death protein 1Macrophage/monocyte markerSentinel lymph node positivityCell death protein 1Associated with poor prognosisLymph node positivityDense fibrous stromaPotential prognostic significanceCore of tumors
2023
A bedside to bench study of anti-PD-1, anti-CD40, and anti-CSF1R indicates that more is not necessarily better
Djureinovic D, Weiss S, Krykbaeva I, Qu R, Vathiotis I, Moutafi M, Zhang L, Perdigoto A, Wei W, Anderson G, Damsky W, Hurwitz M, Johnson B, Schoenfeld D, Mahajan A, Hsu F, Miller-Jensen K, Kluger Y, Sznol M, Kaech S, Bosenberg M, Jilaveanu L, Kluger H. A bedside to bench study of anti-PD-1, anti-CD40, and anti-CSF1R indicates that more is not necessarily better. Molecular Cancer 2023, 22: 182. PMID: 37964379, PMCID: PMC10644655, DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01884-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAntibodies, MonoclonalHumansMelanomaMiceNivolumabReceptor Protein-Tyrosine KinasesConceptsStable diseasePartial responseMacrophage populationsThree-drug regimenUnconfirmed partial responsePhase I trialLimited treatment optionsMonocyte/macrophage populationNon-classical monocytesMurine melanoma modelTreatment-related changesResultsThirteen patientsWorse survivalI trialInflammatory tumorPatient populationTreatment optionsImmune cellsDisease progressionMurine studiesPreclinical modelsResistant melanomaAntigen presentationMurine modelCyTOF analysisDigital spatial profiling of melanoma shows CD95 expression in immune cells is associated with resistance to immunotherapy
Martinez-Morilla S, Moutafi M, Fernandez A, Jessel S, Divakar P, Wong P, Garcia-Milian R, Schalper K, Kluger H, Rimm D. Digital spatial profiling of melanoma shows CD95 expression in immune cells is associated with resistance to immunotherapy. OncoImmunology 2023, 12: 2260618. PMID: 37781235, PMCID: PMC10540659, DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2023.2260618.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDigital spatial profilingImmune checkpoint inhibitor therapyShorter progression-free survivalQuantitative immunofluorescenceCheckpoint inhibitor therapyProgression-free survivalMetastatic melanoma patientsPre-treatment specimensIndependent validation cohortMetastatic melanoma casesAdjuvant settingNanoString GeoMxMultivariable adjustmentAdverse eventsImmunotherapy cohortInhibitor therapyPD-L1Immune markersMelanoma patientsUnivariable analysisValidation cohortImmune cellsMelanoma casesMultiplex immunofluorescenceCD95 expressionLeptomeningeal disease in melanoma: An update on the developments in pathophysiology and clinical care
Smalley I, Boire A, Brastianos P, Kluger H, Hernando‐Monge E, Forsyth P, Ahmed K, Smalley K, Ferguson S, Davies M, Oliva I. Leptomeningeal disease in melanoma: An update on the developments in pathophysiology and clinical care. Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research 2023, 37: 51-67. PMID: 37622466, DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.13116.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA Phase II Trial of the CD40 Agonist Sotigalimab (APX005M) in Combination with Nivolumab in Subjects with Metastatic Melanoma with Disease Progression on Anti-PD-1
Weiss S, Sznol M, Shaheen M, Berciano-Guerrero M, Muñoz-Couselo E, Rodríguez-Abreu D, Boni V, Schuchter L, Cao M, Fernandez A, Wei W, Ganti A, Hauke R, Berrocal A, Iannotti N, Hsu F, Kluger H. A Phase II Trial of the CD40 Agonist Sotigalimab (APX005M) in Combination with Nivolumab in Subjects with Metastatic Melanoma with Disease Progression on Anti-PD-1. Clinical Cancer Research 2023, 30: 74-81. PMID: 37535056, PMCID: PMC10767304, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-0475.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsObjective response ratePhase II trialAdverse eventsPartial responseDisease progressionII trialGrade 3 adverse eventsAnti PD-1CD40 agonist antibodyElevated liver functionTreatment-related SAEsCommon adverse eventsActivation of CD40Subset of patientsFavorable safety profileAntigen presenting cellsStable diseaseMedian durationAdvanced melanomaAdditional patientsLiver functionSafety profileMetastatic melanomaPreclinical dataPresenting cellsIL-7R licenses a population of epigenetically poised memory CD8+ T cells with superior antitumor efficacy that are critical for melanoma memory
Micevic G, Daniels A, Flem-Karlsen K, Park K, Talty R, McGeary M, Mirza H, Blackburn H, Sefik E, Cheung J, Hornick N, Aizenbud L, Joshi N, Kluger H, Iwasaki A, Bosenberg M, Flavell R. IL-7R licenses a population of epigenetically poised memory CD8+ T cells with superior antitumor efficacy that are critical for melanoma memory. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2023, 120: e2304319120. PMID: 37459511, PMCID: PMC10372654, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2304319120.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIL-7R expressionT cellsIL-7RAntitumor memorySuperior antitumor efficacyCell-based therapiesTumor-specific T cellsAntigen-specific T cellsAntitumor efficacyPowerful antitumor immune responseMarkers of exhaustionTumor-specific CD8Antitumor immune responseIndependent prognostic factorAntitumor immune memoryMemory T cellsMajor risk factorSuperior antitumor activityFunctional CD8Memory CD8Prognostic factorsSurgical resectionAdvanced melanomaLymph nodesNaive miceDeterminants of overall survival in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma
Demkowicz P, Pointdujour‐Lim R, Miguez S, Lee Y, Jones B, Barker C, Bosenberg M, Abramson D, Shoushtari A, Kluger H, Francis J, Sznol M, Bakhoum M. Determinants of overall survival in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma. Cancer 2023, 129: 3275-3286. PMID: 37382208, PMCID: PMC11149607, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.34927.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAnti-PD-1 therapyMetastatic uveal melanomaDeath hazard ratioImmune checkpoint inhibitorsOverall survivalHazard ratioUveal melanomaSurvival outcomesFemale sexCheckpoint inhibitorsECOG scoreValidation cohortEastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status scaleGood baseline performance statusMetastatic uveal melanoma patientsMetastatic UM patientsImproved overall survivalMedian overall survivalBaseline performance statusBetter survival outcomesImproved survival outcomesPotential of immunotherapyWorse survival outcomesImmune checkpoint therapyKaplan-Meier analysisSubsets of IFN Signaling Predict Response to Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Patients with Melanoma.
Horowitch B, Lee D, Ding M, Martinez-Morilla S, Aung T, Ouerghi F, Wang X, Wei W, Damsky W, Sznol M, Kluger H, Rimm D, Ishizuka J. Subsets of IFN Signaling Predict Response to Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Patients with Melanoma. Clinical Cancer Research 2023, 29: 2908-2918. PMID: 37233452, PMCID: PMC10524955, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-0215.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsImmune checkpoint inhibitorsHuman melanoma cell linesMelanoma cell linesPD-L1Validation cohortYale-New Haven HospitalCombination of ipilimumabPD-L1 markersImmune checkpoint blockadePD-L1 biomarkerNew Haven HospitalSTAT1 levelsCell linesWestern blot analysisCheckpoint inhibitorsCheckpoint blockadeClinical responseOverall survivalImproved survivalResistance of cancersMetastatic melanomaMelanoma responsePredict responseTreatment responseDistinct patternsLenvatinib or anti-VEGF in combination with anti-PD-1 differentially augments anti-tumor activity in melanoma
Tran T, Caulfield J, Zhang L, Schoenfeld D, Djureinovic D, Chiang V, Oria V, Weiss S, Olino K, Jilaveanu L, Kluger H. Lenvatinib or anti-VEGF in combination with anti-PD-1 differentially augments anti-tumor activity in melanoma. JCI Insight 2023, 8: e157347. PMID: 36821392, PMCID: PMC10132152, DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.157347.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTumor microenvironmentAnti-VEGFCytokine/chemokine signalingCytokine/chemokine profilingBlood-brain barrier modelBlood vesselsLeukocyte transmigrationTumor-associated blood vesselsTumor-associated macrophagesIntratumoral blood vesselsAnti-angiogenesis effectAnti-tumor activityExtracranial diseasePlasmacytoid DCsImmune checkpointsPD-1Melanoma murine modelImmune infiltrationBBB modelChemokine profilingEndothelial stabilizationMurine modelLenvatinibCombined targetingMelanoma modelSociety for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) consensus definitions for resistance to combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors with targeted therapies
Atkins M, Ascierto P, Feltquate D, Gulley J, Johnson D, Khushalani N, Sosman J, Yap T, Kluger H, Sullivan R, Tawbi H. Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) consensus definitions for resistance to combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors with targeted therapies. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2023, 11: e005923. PMID: 36918225, PMCID: PMC10016252, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005923.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsImmune checkpoint inhibitorsConsensus definitionCheckpoint inhibitorsAntiangiogenic therapySingle-agent immune checkpoint inhibitorsConsensus clinical definitionSolid tumor settingTumor immune microenvironmentImmunotherapy of cancerDurable disease controlClinical trial designSignal transduction inhibitorsICI combinationsEndometrial cancerImproved survivalRandomized trialsImmune microenvironmentMechanisms of resistanceHepatocellular carcinomaClinical definitionKidney cancerImmunotherapyTumor settingsCombination treatmentTrial designValidation of the Prognostic Usefulness of the Gene Expression Profiling Test in Patients with Uveal Melanoma
Miguez S, Lee R, Chan A, Demkowicz P, Jones B, Long C, Abramson D, Bosenberg M, Sznol M, Kluger H, Goldbaum M, Francis J, Pointdujour-Lim R, Bakhoum M. Validation of the Prognostic Usefulness of the Gene Expression Profiling Test in Patients with Uveal Melanoma. Ophthalmology 2023, 130: 598-607. PMID: 36739981, PMCID: PMC10619207, DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2023.01.020.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMetastasis-free survivalRisk of metastasisClass 2 tumorsAdditional prognostic valueRate of metastasisPrognostic usefulnessTumor sizeTumor characteristicsPrognostic valueUveal melanomaGene expression profile testingMemorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer CenterGEP classificationCox hazard regression analysisYale-New Haven HospitalHazards regression analysisGene expression profiling testsNew Haven HospitalClass 1 tumorsGEP class 2Class 1AMean followTumor thicknessCancer CenterSurveillance protocolMelanoma in pregnancy
Czeyda-Pommersheim F, Kluger H, Langdon J, Menias C, VanBuren W, Leventhal J, Baumann R, Revzin M. Melanoma in pregnancy. Abdominal Radiology 2023, 48: 1740-1751. PMID: 36719425, DOI: 10.1007/s00261-022-03796-8.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus Statements
2022
Longitudinal single-cell analysis of a patient receiving adoptive cell therapy reveals potential mechanisms of treatment failure
Qu R, Kluger Y, Yang J, Zhao J, Hafler D, Krause D, Bersenev A, Bosenberg M, Hurwitz M, Lucca L, Kluger H. Longitudinal single-cell analysis of a patient receiving adoptive cell therapy reveals potential mechanisms of treatment failure. Molecular Cancer 2022, 21: 219. PMID: 36514045, PMCID: PMC9749221, DOI: 10.1186/s12943-022-01688-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAdoptive cell therapySingle-cell analysisDepth single-cell analysisSingle-cell RNAACT productsDisease progressionT-cell receptor sequencingCell therapyFamily genesFeatures of exhaustionMultiple tumor typesCell expansionGenesNew clonotypesTIL preparationsClonal cell expansionCytokine therapyTreatment failureSerial bloodClonesEffector functionsSerial samplesTumor typesCellular therapyTherapyMelanoma central nervous system metastases: An update to approaches, challenges, and opportunities
Karz A, Dimitrova M, Kleffman K, Alvarez‐Breckenridge C, Atkins MB, Boire A, Bosenberg M, Brastianos P, Cahill DP, Chen Q, Ferguson S, Forsyth P, Oliva I, Goldberg SB, Holmen SL, Knisely JPS, Merlino G, Nguyen DX, Pacold ME, Perez‐Guijarro E, Smalley KSM, Tawbi HA, Wen PY, Davies MA, Kluger HM, Mehnert JM, Hernando E. Melanoma central nervous system metastases: An update to approaches, challenges, and opportunities. Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research 2022, 35: 554-572. PMID: 35912544, PMCID: PMC10171356, DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.13059.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMelanoma brain metastasesMBM patientsBrain metastasesCheckpoint inhibitor trialsCommon brain malignancyMelanoma Research FoundationDedicated clinical trialsRole of astrocytesNovel treatment approachesImmunotherapy trialsInhibitor trialsBrain malignanciesClinical trialsPatient outcomesBrain microenvironmentTreatment approachesPatient advocatesPatientsTrialsTherapeutic purposesMetabolic adaptationMetastasisCurrent standardTherapyRecent reportsCoupled fibromodulin and SOX2 signaling as a critical regulator of metastatic outgrowth in melanoma
Oria VO, Zhang H, Zito CR, Rane CK, Ma XY, Provance OK, Tran TT, Adeniran A, Kluger Y, Sznol M, Bosenberg MW, Kluger HM, Jilaveanu LB. Coupled fibromodulin and SOX2 signaling as a critical regulator of metastatic outgrowth in melanoma. Cellular And Molecular Life Sciences 2022, 79: 377. PMID: 35737114, PMCID: PMC9226089, DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04364-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTumor suppressor Hippo pathwayNovel regulatory mechanismTumor vasculogenic mimicryMetastatic outgrowthExtracellular matrix componentsHippo pathwayRegulatory mechanismsMolecular eventsTumor-stroma interactionsCritical regulatorMetastatic competenceProgenitor markersProliferative stateFunctional roleFunctional studiesSOX2Vasculogenic mimicryDistinct phenotypesMatrix componentsEarly developmentFmodHigh expressionCritical processOutgrowthImportant roleAssociation Between Food and Drug Administration Approval and Disparities in Immunotherapy Use Among Patients With Cancer in the US
Ermer T, Canavan ME, Maduka RC, Li AX, Salazar MC, Kaminski MF, Pichert MD, Zhan PL, Mase V, Kluger H, Boffa DJ. Association Between Food and Drug Administration Approval and Disparities in Immunotherapy Use Among Patients With Cancer in the US. JAMA Network Open 2022, 5: e2219535. PMID: 35771575, PMCID: PMC9247736, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.19535.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-small cell lung cancerRenal cell carcinomaUse of immunotherapyFDA approvalImmunotherapy useCohort studyClinical trialsNovel therapiesStage IV non-small cell lung cancerMultivariable logistic regression modelingFirst checkpoint inhibitorCheckpoint inhibitor therapyNational Cancer DatabasePatients 20 yearsCell lung cancerSocioeconomic strataTreatment of patientsDrug Administration approvalLife-saving treatmentReceipt of immunotherapyLogistic regression modelingSocioeconomic characteristicsImmunotherapy administrationCheckpoint inhibitorsPatient characteristicsEmerging Studies of Melanoma Brain Metastasis
Caulfield JI, Kluger HM. Emerging Studies of Melanoma Brain Metastasis. Current Oncology Reports 2022, 24: 585-594. PMID: 35212922, DOI: 10.1007/s11912-022-01237-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMelanoma brain metastasesBrain metastasesClinical studiesTreatment approachesRecent FindingsClinical trialsImmune checkpoint inhibitorsAdditional treatment approachesRecent preclinical studiesNew treatment approachesCentral nervous systemBrain disseminationCheckpoint inhibitorsSignificant morbidityPerilesional edemaRadiation necrosisPatient populationClinical challengePreclinical studiesNervous systemSolid tumorsEmerging studiesMetastasisTumor microenvironmentDisease controlTumor homing