2024
Interferon-stimulated neutrophils as a predictor of immunotherapy response
Benguigui M, Cooper T, Kalkar P, Schif-Zuck S, Halaban R, Bacchiocchi A, Kamer I, Deo A, Manobla B, Menachem R, Haj-Shomaly J, Vorontsova A, Raviv Z, Buxbaum C, Christopoulos P, Bar J, Lotem M, Sznol M, Ariel A, Shen-Orr S, Shaked Y. Interferon-stimulated neutrophils as a predictor of immunotherapy response. Cancer Cell 2024, 42: 253-265.e12. PMID: 38181798, PMCID: PMC10864002, DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.12.005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchImmunotherapy responseNon-small cell lung cancerAnti-PD1 responseAnti-PD1 therapyCohort of patientsNon-responsive tumorsCell lung cancerAnti-cancer immunotherapyPre-clinical findingsBlood-borne biomarkersCytotoxic TLung cancerPredictive biomarkersCurrent biomarkersTreatment responseNeutrophilsLY6EBiomarkersActive biomarkersPatientsMiceFurther mechanistic understandingActivationResponseImmunotherapy
2019
Immunotherapy of Melanoma: Facts and Hopes
Weiss SA, Wolchok JD, Sznol M. Immunotherapy of Melanoma: Facts and Hopes. Clinical Cancer Research 2019, 25: 5191-5201. PMID: 30923036, PMCID: PMC6726509, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-1550.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOverall survivalMetastatic diseaseImmune therapyPredictive biomarkersNivolumab/ipilimumab combinationRandomized phase III trialLong-term clinical benefitImmunobiology of tumorsDuration of therapyPhase III trialsLong-term survivorsEffective immune therapyAdjuvant settingIpilimumab combinationMetastatic settingIII trialsPatient subsetsClinical benefitImmune modulationMetastatic melanomaClinical trialsSingle agentTherapyTrue increaseCell therapy
2017
Challenges in Conducting Clinical Research on Patients With Advanced Melanoma
Sznol M. Challenges in Conducting Clinical Research on Patients With Advanced Melanoma. The Cancer Journal 2017, 23: 75-78. PMID: 28114259, DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0000000000000239.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsImmune therapyClinical researchFirst-line doubletPredictive clinical variablesSecond-line settingFirst-line therapyPool of patientsSignal of activityTreatment of melanomaSuboptimal responseAdvanced melanomaCare therapyInvestigational therapiesClinical variablesMultidrug regimensMultidrug combinationsPredictive biomarkersClinical studiesLower incidenceTissue biomarkersNew agentsNew treatmentsTherapyLarger studyMelanoma
2013
Advances in the systemic treatment of metastatic melanoma.
Yushak M, Kluger HM, Sznol M. Advances in the systemic treatment of metastatic melanoma. Oncology 2013, 27: 374-81. PMID: 25184258, PMCID: PMC6092183.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAntibodies, MonoclonalDrug Therapy, CombinationHumansImidazolesImmunologic FactorsImmunotherapy, AdoptiveIndolesIpilimumabMelanomaMutationNivolumabOximesProgrammed Cell Death 1 ReceptorProtein Kinase InhibitorsProto-Oncogene Proteins B-rafPyridonesPyrimidinonesSkin NeoplasmsSulfonamidesVemurafenibConceptsMetastatic melanomaTumor-host immune interactionsRandomized phase III trialPhase III trialsCombination of dabrafenibAdoptive cell therapyStandard of carePromising new agentPhase II dataIII trialsOverall survivalSystemic treatmentPredictive biomarkersMechanisms of resistanceTreatment outcomesIndividual patientsLimited efficacyAvailable agentsImmune interactionsNew agentsMolecular alterationsEffective agentCell therapyCurrent agentsMelanoma cellsAntagonist Antibodies to PD-1 and B7-H1 (PD-L1) in the Treatment of Advanced Human Cancer
Sznol M, Chen L. Antagonist Antibodies to PD-1 and B7-H1 (PD-L1) in the Treatment of Advanced Human Cancer. Clinical Cancer Research 2013, 19: 1021-1034. PMID: 23460533, PMCID: PMC3702373, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-12-2063.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsB7-H1PD-1PD-1/PDAnti-PD-1 antibodyTumor microenvironmentAccurate predictive biomarkersEncouraging safety profileLigand B7-H1Antitumor immune responseB7-H1 expressionSubset of patientsImmune suppressive moleculesT cell functionInitial clinical studiesActivated T lymphocytesAdvanced human cancersRemarkable antitumor activityB7-DCClinical responseMetastatic diseaseDeath-1Immune suppressionSafety profileLung cancerPredictive biomarkers
2011
Molecular Markers of Response to Treatment for Melanoma
Sznol M. Molecular Markers of Response to Treatment for Melanoma. The Cancer Journal 2011, 17: 127-133. PMID: 21427556, DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0b013e318212dd5a.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsImmune therapyAnti-tumor immune responseInitial high response rateStandard of careFraction of patientsUseful predictive biomarkerHigh response rateMost patientsMetastatic melanomaPredictive biomarkersClinical activityImmune responseIndividual patientsPotent small molecule inhibitorsDurable benefitMultiple active agentsSmall molecule inhibitorsResponse ratePatientsMutant BRAFOverall populationTherapyMolecule inhibitorsMelanomaTumors
2010
A phase 2 trial of dasatinib in advanced melanoma
Kluger HM, Dudek AZ, McCann C, Ritacco J, Southard N, Jilaveanu LB, Molinaro A, Sznol M. A phase 2 trial of dasatinib in advanced melanoma. Cancer 2010, 117: 2202-2208. PMID: 21523734, PMCID: PMC3116034, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.25766.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProgression-free survivalC-kit mutationsPhase 2 trialResponse ratePartial responseMedian progression-free survivalMelanoma cell proliferationDaily dasatinibMucosal primaryPFS ratesStarting dosageCommon toxicitiesUnresectable melanomaAdvanced melanomaPleural effusionMelanoma patientsPredictive biomarkersMinor responseCombination trialsTumor assessmentDose reductionPatientsPrespecified endpointsDasatinibMelanomaMelanoma: A model for testing new agents in combination therapies
Ascierto PA, Streicher HZ, Sznol M. Melanoma: A model for testing new agents in combination therapies. Journal Of Translational Medicine 2010, 8: 38. PMID: 20406483, PMCID: PMC2873374, DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-8-38.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsC-Kit inhibitorsAdvanced melanomaImmune modulatorsIntroduction of interferonNew single agentsMulti-modality treatmentReliable predictive biomarkersSelection of patientsAdoptive cellular therapyAnti-angiogenesis agentsValidation of PatientAdditional molecular targetsImmunologic modulatorsAdvanced diseaseCombination therapyPredictive biomarkersIL-2High success rateIndividual patientsNew agentsSmall molecule inhibitorsPatientsSingle agentResponse rateAnticancer modalities
2009
Betting on immunotherapy for melanoma
Sznol M. Betting on immunotherapy for melanoma. Current Oncology Reports 2009, 11: 397-404. PMID: 19679015, DOI: 10.1007/s11912-009-0053-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAdvanced melanomaAntigen-specific T cell expansionEffective antitumor immune responseAntitumor immune responseEffective treatment optionT cell expansionAntigen-specific lymphocytesTumor defense mechanismsDurable remissionsPreparative regimensConditioning regimensAdoptive immunotherapyImmune therapyCancer vaccinesImmune activationTreatment optionsPredictive biomarkersPrimary tumorTumor immunobiologyClinical trialsAntigen presentationImmune responseHigh riskNew cytokinePatients