2024
Circulating tumor-reactive KIR+CD8+ T cells suppress anti-tumor immunity in patients with melanoma
Lu B, Lucca L, Lewis W, Wang J, Nogueira C, Heer S, Rayon-Estrada V, Axisa P, Reeves S, Buitrago-Pocasangre N, Pham G, Kojima M, Wei W, Aizenbud L, Bacchiocchi A, Zhang L, Walewski J, Chiang V, Olino K, Clune J, Halaban R, Kluger Y, Coyle A, Kisielow J, Obermair F, Kluger H, Hafler D. Circulating tumor-reactive KIR+CD8+ T cells suppress anti-tumor immunity in patients with melanoma. Nature Immunology 2024, 1-10. PMID: 39609626, DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-02023-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCD8+ T cellsAnti-tumor immunityRegulatory T cellsT cellsSubpopulation of CD8+ T cellsCytotoxic CD8+ T cellsHuman CD8+ T cellsTumor antigen-specific CD8Impaired anti-tumor immunityTumor antigen-specificPoor overall survivalTumor rejectionKIR expressionOverall survivalTumor antigensImmune evasionCellular mediatorsHuman cancersCD8MelanomaTumorTranscriptional programsFunctional heterogeneityImmunityPatientsMelanocortin-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 trialsImmunotherapy utilization in stage IIIA melanoma: less may be more
Frey A, Kerekes D, Khan S, Tran T, Kluger H, Clune J, Ariyan S, Sznol M, Ishizuka J, Olino K. Immunotherapy utilization in stage IIIA melanoma: less may be more. Frontiers In Oncology 2024, 14: 1336441. PMID: 38380358, PMCID: PMC10876869, DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1336441.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchStage IIIA melanomaHigh-volume centersRisk-adjusted survivalLow-volume centersImmunotherapy utilizationAdjuvant immunotherapyStage IIIATreatment of stage III melanomaAcademic centersMultivariable Cox proportional hazards regressionStage III melanomaNational Cancer DatabaseStage III diseaseFactors associated with receiptCox proportional hazards regressionCompare patient outcomesProportional hazards regressionIII melanomaImmunotherapy receiptReceiving immunotherapyIII diseaseImmunotherapy agentsOverall survivalSurvival benefitAdjuvant treatment
2023
Determinants 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 patternsSurvival, Durable Tumor Remission, and Long-Term Safety in Patients With Advanced Melanoma Receiving Nivolumab
Topalian S, Sznol M, McDermott D, Kluger H, Carvajal R, Sharfman W, Brahmer J, Lawrence D, Atkins M, Powderly J, Leming P, Lipson E, Puzanov I, Smith D, Taube J, Wigginton J, Kollia G, Gupta A, Pardoll D, Sosman J, Hodi F. Survival, Durable Tumor Remission, and Long-Term Safety in Patients With Advanced Melanoma Receiving Nivolumab. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2023, 41: 943-954. PMID: 36750016, DOI: 10.1200/jco.22.02272.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLong-term safetyOverall survivalToxicity ratesTumor regressionResponse durationOngoing randomized clinical trialsDurable tumor remissionNivolumab-treated patientsMedian overall survivalMedian response durationPD-1 blockadeObjective tumor regressionMaintenance of responseCell death 1Randomized clinical trialsSimilar patient populationsActivated T cellsDrug discontinuationIntravenous nivolumabNivolumab therapyNivolumab treatmentTreatment discontinuationObjective responseAdvanced melanomaDeath-1
2022
FRACTION-RCC: nivolumab plus ipilimumab for advanced renal cell carcinoma after progression on immuno-oncology therapy
Choueiri T, Kluger H, George S, Tykodi S, Kuzel T, Perets R, Nair S, Procopio G, Carducci M, Castonguay V, Folefac E, Lee C, Hotte S, Miller W, Saggi S, Lee C, Desilva H, Bhagavatheeswaran P, Motzer R, Escudier B. FRACTION-RCC: nivolumab plus ipilimumab for advanced renal cell carcinoma after progression on immuno-oncology therapy. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2022, 10: e005780. PMID: 36328377, PMCID: PMC9639138, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005780.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAdvanced renal cell carcinomaObjective response rateDuration of responseIO therapyImmuno-oncology therapiesRenal cell carcinomaOverall survivalCell carcinomaAnti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapyImmune-mediated adverse eventsMedian DORProgression-free survival ratesTreatment-related deathsManageable safety profileMedian overall survivalPD-L1 therapyDurable clinical benefitKarnofsky performance statusPrimary outcome measureHigh unmet needExploratory endpointsIpilimumab armPFS ratesStable diseaseAdverse eventsAssociation between immune-mediated adverse events and efficacy in metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer patients treated with durvalumab and tremelimumab
Dey A, Austin M, Kluger H, Trunova N, Mann H, Shire N, Morgan C, Zhou D, Mugundu G. Association between immune-mediated adverse events and efficacy in metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer patients treated with durvalumab and tremelimumab. Frontiers In Immunology 2022, 13: 1026964. PMID: 36405729, PMCID: PMC9670978, DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1026964.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCell lung cancer patientsLung cancer patientsAdverse eventsBaseline characteristicsOverall survivalCancer patientsMultivariate Cox proportional hazards modelImmune-mediated adverse eventsCox proportional hazards modelIndividual patient-level dataImmune checkpoint inhibitorsImproved overall survivalEfficacy of immunotherapyPatient demographic featuresOptimal clinical benefitPatient-level dataProportional hazards modelCheckpoint inhibitorsCombination armLaboratory featuresSteroid treatmentClinical benefitPatient survivalPatient populationHigher odds
2021
Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Changing Practice Patterns and Impact on Recurrence-Free and Overall Survival at a Single Institution and Nationally
Esposito A, Jacobs D, Ariyan S, Galan A, Kluger H, Clune J, Weiss S, Tran T, Olino K. Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Changing Practice Patterns and Impact on Recurrence-Free and Overall Survival at a Single Institution and Nationally. Annals Of Surgical Oncology 2021, 29: 415-424. PMID: 34494169, PMCID: PMC8677689, DOI: 10.1245/s10434-021-10727-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDisease-specific survivalOverall survivalCT2 diseasePractice patternsSingle-institution retrospective reviewShorter disease-specific survivalActive cigarette smokersAdoption of immunotherapyMultivariable Cox regressionUse of immunotherapyUse of radiotherapyResultsOne hundred fiftyShorter overall survivalAggressive neuroendocrine carcinomaRisk of mortalitySurrogate outcome measureBackgroundMerkel cell carcinomaTreatment of MCCMCC managementImmunocompromised stateMCC patientsMedian ageUnknown primaryRetrospective reviewCigarette smokersOutcomes of Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Immunotherapy in Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients With Brain Metastases
Uezono H, Nam D, Kluger HM, Sznol M, Hurwitz M, Yu JB, Chiang VL. Outcomes of Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Immunotherapy in Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients With Brain Metastases. American Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2021, 44: 495-501. PMID: 34432667, DOI: 10.1097/coc.0000000000000849.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsImmune checkpoint inhibitorsRCC brain metastasesBrain metastasesRenal cell carcinomaStereotactic radiosurgeryOverall survivalUse of ICIsCentral nervous system toxicityRenal cell carcinoma patientsImpact of immunotherapyLocal control outcomesMedian overall survivalCell carcinoma patientsKaplan-Meier curvesNervous system toxicityBetter median OSLog-rank testMann-Whitney U testMargin doseMedian OSNonimmunotherapy groupSRS doseCheckpoint inhibitorsImmunotherapy groupCarcinoma patients
2020
Primary Treatment Selection for Clinically Node-Negative Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
Jacobs D, Olino K, Park HS, Clune J, Cheraghlou S, Girardi M, Burtness B, Kluger H, Judson BL. Primary Treatment Selection for Clinically Node-Negative Merkel Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck. Otolaryngology 2020, 164: 1214-1221. PMID: 33079010, DOI: 10.1177/0194599820967001.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNode-negative Merkel cell carcinomaLymph node evaluationImproved overall survivalPrimary tumor excisionMerkel cell carcinomaCase volumeOverall survivalSurgical managementCell carcinomaTumor excisionTreatment selectionNode evaluationCox proportional hazards regressionGuideline-recommended carePrimary treatment selectionNational Cancer DatabaseNode-negative diseasePercentage of patientsRetrospective cohort analysisInitial surgical managementKaplan-Meier analysisWide local excisionProportional hazards regressionRates of receiptInitial managementA phase I, open-label, multicenter, single-dose escalation and multi-dose study of a monoclonal antibody targeting CEACAM1 in subjects with selected advanced or recurrent malignancies.
Shapira R, Weber J, Geva R, Sznol M, Kluger H, Wong D, Liang B. A phase I, open-label, multicenter, single-dose escalation and multi-dose study of a monoclonal antibody targeting CEACAM1 in subjects with selected advanced or recurrent malignancies. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2020, 38: 3094-3094. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2020.38.15_suppl.3094.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchWeek regimenCEACAM1 expressionAnti-PD-1 therapyPhase 1/2 clinical trialCell adhesion molecule-1Drug-related AEsHigh CEACAM1 expressionPhase 2 doseSingle-dose escalationMedian overall survivalAnti-tumor responseMulti-dose studyBest overall responseAdhesion molecule-1Poor disease prognosisExhausted lymphocytesStable diseaseSevere AEsAdult patientsOverall survivalTim-3Frequent AEsImmune checkpointsRecurrent malignancyRecurrent cancerSurvival after checkpoint inhibitors for metastatic acral, mucosal and uveal melanoma
Klemen ND, Wang M, Rubinstein JC, Olino K, Clune J, Ariyan S, Cha C, Weiss SA, Kluger HM, Sznol M. Survival after checkpoint inhibitors for metastatic acral, mucosal and uveal melanoma. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2020, 8: e000341. PMID: 32209601, PMCID: PMC7103823, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2019-000341.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCheckpoint inhibitorsOverall survivalMetastatic melanomaPrimary tumorLocal therapyCutaneous melanomaAnti-PD-1 antibodyAggressive multidisciplinary approachCutaneous primary tumorPrimary tumor histologyMedian overall survivalSingle institutional experienceRare melanoma subtypeMedian OSMetastatic diseaseProgressive diseaseAcral skinComplete responsePD-1PD-L1Uveal tractTumor histologyCombination therapyCTLA-4Longer survivalHigh WHO/ISUP Grade and Unfavorable Architecture, Rather Than Typing of Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma, May Be Associated With Worse Prognosis
Yang C, Shuch B, Kluger H, Humphrey PA, Adeniran AJ. High WHO/ISUP Grade and Unfavorable Architecture, Rather Than Typing of Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma, May Be Associated With Worse Prognosis. The American Journal Of Surgical Pathology 2020, 44: 582-593. PMID: 32101890, DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000001455.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPapillary renal cell carcinomaType 2 papillary renal cell carcinomaDisease-free survivalWHO/ISUP gradeHigh WHO/ISUP gradeOverall survivalRenal cell carcinomaISUP gradeWorld Health OrganizationPRCC typeType 1Hazard ratioPathologic stageCell carcinomaMicropapillary architectureHistologic parametersType 2Stepwise multivariate Cox regression analysisWorse disease-free survivalMultivariate Cox regression analysisTumor areaType 1 histologyUrological Pathology (ISUP) gradeCox regression analysisMixed type 1
2019
PLEKHA5 regulates tumor growth in metastatic melanoma
Zhang H, Zhu H, Deng G, Zito CR, Oria VO, Rane CK, Zhang S, Weiss SA, Tran T, Adeniran A, Zhang F, Zhou J, Kluger Y, Bosenberg MW, Kluger HM, Jilaveanu LB. PLEKHA5 regulates tumor growth in metastatic melanoma. Cancer 2019, 126: 1016-1030. PMID: 31769872, PMCID: PMC7147081, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.32611.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedAnimalsApoptosis Regulatory ProteinsBiomarkers, TumorBrain NeoplasmsCell ProliferationFemaleFollow-Up StudiesGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansIntracellular Signaling Peptides and ProteinsMaleMelanomaMiceMice, NudeMiddle AgedPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesPrognosisProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktTOR Serine-Threonine KinasesTumor Cells, CulturedXenograft Model Antitumor AssaysYoung AdultConceptsTumor growthDisseminated melanomaExtracranial melanoma metastasesPI3K/AKT/mTOR pathwayMelanoma brain metastasesBetter overall survivalPI3K/Akt/mTORAKT/mTOR pathwayCell proliferationAkt/mTORMelanoma xenograft modelGrowth of tumorsS cell cycle transitionBrain metastasesOverall survivalPoor prognosisMetastatic melanomaMAPK/ERKSubcutaneous inoculationMelanoma metastasesXenograft modelClinical relevanceMelanoma growthNude miceCerebral specimensSafety, Clinical Activity, and Biological Correlates of Response in Patients with Metastatic Melanoma: Results from a Phase I Trial of Atezolizumab
Hamid O, Molinero L, Bolen CR, Sosman JA, Muñoz-Couselo E, Kluger HM, McDermott DF, Powderly J, Sarkar I, Ballinger M, Fassò M, O'Hear C, Chen DS, Hegde PS, Hodi FS. Safety, Clinical Activity, and Biological Correlates of Response in Patients with Metastatic Melanoma: Results from a Phase I Trial of Atezolizumab. Clinical Cancer Research 2019, 25: 6061-6072. PMID: 31358540, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-3488.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedAntineoplastic Agents, ImmunologicalB7-H1 AntigenBiomarkers, TumorFatigueFemaleFeverFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMelanomaMiddle AgedPrognosisProgression-Free SurvivalPruritusRetrospective StudiesSeverity of Illness IndexSkinSkin NeoplasmsT-Lymphocytes, CytotoxicTranscriptomeYoung AdultConceptsTreatment-related adverse eventsAdverse eventsOverall survivalMetastatic melanomaCommon treatment-related adverse eventsMost treatment-related adverse eventsAntitumor T-cell activityMeaningful long-term survivalActivity of atezolizumabEfficacy-evaluable patientsPhase Ia studyTreatment-related deathsMedian overall survivalPD-L1 expressionProgression-free survivalCohort of patientsPhase I trialT cell activityOverall response rateBiological correlatesLong-term safetyLong-term survivalPrimary study objectiveDurable responsesGrade 1/2High-Plex Predictive Marker Discovery for Melanoma Immunotherapy–Treated Patients Using Digital Spatial Profiling
Toki MI, Merritt CR, Wong PF, Smithy JW, Kluger HM, Syrigos KN, Ong GT, Warren SE, Beechem JM, Rimm DL. High-Plex Predictive Marker Discovery for Melanoma Immunotherapy–Treated Patients Using Digital Spatial Profiling. Clinical Cancer Research 2019, 25: 5503-5512. PMID: 31189645, PMCID: PMC6744974, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-0104.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAntineoplastic Agents, ImmunologicalBiomarkers, TumorFemaleFluorescent Antibody TechniqueHumansImmunohistochemistryImmunotherapyLymphocytes, Tumor-InfiltratingMaleMelanomaMolecular Diagnostic TechniquesMolecular Targeted TherapyPrognosisProportional Hazards ModelsTissue Array AnalysisTreatment OutcomeConceptsNon-small cell lung cancerProlonged progression-free survivalDigital spatial profilingOverall survivalPD-L1Predictive markerPD-L1 expressionProgression-free survivalProtein expressionCell lung cancerNovel predictive markerCD68-positive cellsStromal CD3Melanoma immunotherapyImmune markersImmune therapyPrognostic valueLung cancerAntibody cocktailTissue microarrayQuantitative fluorescenceOutcome assessmentTumor cellsHigh concordanceMultiple biomarkersBrain Metastasis From Renal-Cell Carcinoma: An Institutional Study
Suarez-Sarmiento A, Nguyen KA, Syed JS, Nolte A, Ghabili K, Cheng M, Liu S, Chiang V, Kluger H, Hurwitz M, Shuch B. Brain Metastasis From Renal-Cell Carcinoma: An Institutional Study. Clinical Genitourinary Cancer 2019, 17: e1163-e1170. PMID: 31519468, DOI: 10.1016/j.clgc.2019.08.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRCC brain metastasesRecurrence-free survivalRenal cell carcinomaBrain metastasesOverall survivalClinical trialsAdvanced renal cell carcinomaCentral nervous system treatmentClear cell renal cell carcinomaMedian overall survivalSingle institution experienceGood local controlKaplan-Meier methodAggressive therapyCNS recurrenceTreatment eraCumulative incidenceExtracranial metastasesMetastatic diseaseSystemic therapyInitial presentationLocal therapyClinical symptomsRCC patientsCell carcinomaMultiplex quantitative analysis of cancer-associated fibroblasts and immunotherapy outcome in metastatic melanoma
Wong PF, Wei W, Gupta S, Smithy JW, Zelterman D, Kluger HM, Rimm DL. Multiplex quantitative analysis of cancer-associated fibroblasts and immunotherapy outcome in metastatic melanoma. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2019, 7: 194. PMID: 31337426, PMCID: PMC6651990, DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0675-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProgression-free survivalBest overall responseSmooth muscle actinOverall survivalCell countQuantitative immunofluorescenceImmune markersImmunotherapy outcomesMelanoma patientsSignificant progression-free survivalAnti-PD-1 therapyAbsence of immunotherapyPretreatment tumor specimensImmune checkpoint blockadeCell death 1Cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) populationNegative prognostic biomarkerCancer-associated fibroblastsWhole tissue sectionsOverall responseOS associationCAF parametersCheckpoint blockadeImmune dysregulationDeath-1B cell depletion or absence does not impede anti-tumor activity of PD-1 inhibitors
Damsky W, Jilaveanu L, Turner N, Perry C, Zito C, Tomayko M, Leventhal J, Herold K, Meffre E, Bosenberg M, Kluger HM. B cell depletion or absence does not impede anti-tumor activity of PD-1 inhibitors. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2019, 7: 153. PMID: 31200747, PMCID: PMC6567557, DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0613-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPD-1 inhibitorsB cell contentB-cell depletionAnti-tumor activityB cellsMuMT miceCell depletionAnti-PD-1 inhibitorsAnti-PD-1 responseB-cell depleting drugsTumor-infiltrating B cellsImpaired B-cell functionT cell-dependent tumor rejectionPD-1 inhibitionMC38 colon cancerB cell functionAnti-tumor effectsB-cell malignanciesMurine cancer modelsCell contentOverall survivalTumor rejectionCD20 antibodyAutoimmune disordersTumor shrinkage