Top Takeaways from ASCO: Circulating melanoma cells

CHICAGO — Circulating melanoma cells at baseline or at the 6-month follow-up point served as an indicator of relapse among patients with stage III melanoma and could serve as a way to detect patients at risk for recurrence.

“There is a need for more sensitive and specific prognostic markers for advanced stage melanoma patients to help improve the risk-benefit ratio of systemic adjuvant therapies,” the researchers wrote. “While it has been demonstrated that circulating melanoma cells can be detected in melanoma patients, there is limited data regarding the prognostic significance of [circulating melanoma cells].”

Anthony Lucci, MD, professor in the department of surgical oncology, division of surgery, at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and colleagues presented their findings at the ASCO 2015 Annual Meeting. The prospective study was conducted to determine if circulating melanoma cells could be used to predict relapse.

Anthony Lucci

Serial circulating melanoma cells assessments (7.5 mL/blood) were conducted in 101 patients with stage III disease, according to the study results. CD146+ cells were immuno-magnetically enriched; CD146+, HMW-MAA+/, CD45-/ and CD34- nucleated cells were considered circulating melanoma cells. The researchers compared RFS between patients with one or more circulating melanoma cells at baseline, during their first presentation to the investigators’ clinic, or at the second blood draw, 6 months from baseline, with patients with no circulating melanoma cells noted at baseline and at the second blood draw.

The median follow-up period was 10 months. No association was noted between the presence of circulating melanoma cells and “primary tumor factors, including Breslow thickness, number of mitotic figures or ulceration,” according to the study results. Among patients with one or more circulating melanoma cells, relapse was noted in 10 out of 44 patients (23%) compared with 4 out of 57 patients (7%) with no circulating melanoma cells identified at baseline or the second blood draw (HR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.01-10.37).

“Circulating melanoma cells at baseline or at a 6-month follow-up blood draw predicted relapse in stage III melanoma patients,” the researchers wrote. “This data supports larger studies to confirm that presence of CMCs could be used to identify patients at risk for relapse, with an ultimate goal of early systemic intervention.” – by Julia Ernst, MS

Reference:

Lucci A, et al. Abstract 9016.

Presented at: ASCO Annual Meeting; May 29-June 2, 2015; Chicago.

Disclosure: Lucci reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.