Selective BRAF inhibitors induce marked T-cell infiltration into human metastatic melanoma.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the effects of treatment with the potent mutant BRAF inhibitors GSK2118436 or vemurafenib (PLX4720) on immune responses to metastatic melanoma in tissues taken before and after treatment.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:

Thirty-seven tumor biopsies were collected from 15 patients with unresectable American Joint Committee on Cancer stage III or IV melanoma immediately before and approximately 7 days after the commencement of BRAF inhibitor treatment and at the time of tumor progression. Immunohistochemical staining was carried out on the biopsies using specific antibodies for CD8, CD4, CD20, CD1a, and Granzyme B.

RESULTS:

Tumor infiltration by CD4(+) and CD8(+) lymphocytes increased markedly following BRAF inhibitor treatment (both ρ = 0.015). There was a correlation between the degree of tumor infiltration by CD8(+) and Granzyme B-expressing lymphocytes in post-BRAF inhibitor-treated biopsies (r = 0.690 and ρ = 0.013). Increased intratumoral CD8(+) lymphocyte expression was correlated with a reduction in tumor size and an increase in necrosis in posttreatment biopsies (r = -0.793, ρ = 0.011; and r = 0.761, ρ = 0.004, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS:

The increase in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes induced by treatment with BRAF inhibitors provides strong support for conducting trials that combine BRAF inhibitors with immunotherapy in the hope of prolonging clinical responses.

• Authors: James S Wilmott, Georgina V Long, Julie R Howle, Lauren E Haydu, Raghwa N Sharma, John F Thompson, Richard F Kefford, Peter Hersey, Richard A Scolyer
• Journal: Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research (Clin Cancer Res) Vol. 18 Issue 5 Pg. 1386-94 (Mar 01 2012) ISSN: 1557-3265 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22156613 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Imidazoles
• Indoles
• Oximes
• PLX 4720
• Protein Kinase Inhibitors
• Sulfonamides
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
• Granzymes
• dabrafenib

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Female
• Granzymes (metabolism)
• Humans
• Imidazoles (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Indoles (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating (drug effects, immunology)
• Male
• Melanoma (drug therapy, immunology, pathology)
• Middle Aged
• Mutation
• Neoplasm Metastasis
• Neoplasm Staging
• Oximes (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Prognosis
• Protein Kinase Inhibitors (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf (antagonists & inhibitors, genetics)
• Sulfonamides (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• T-Lymphocytes (drug effects, immunology)
• Young Adult