Phase I/II clinical trial of adoptive cell transfer of sorted specific T cells for metastatic melanoma patients

A CD8+ T cell-associated immune gene panel for prediction of the prognosis and immunotherapeutic effect of melanoma

Background

Skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) is the most frequently encountered tumor of the skin. Immunotherapy has opened a new horizon in melanoma treatment. We aimed to construct a CD8⁺ T cell-associated immune gene prognostic model (CDIGPM) for SKCM and unravel the immunologic features and the benefits of immunotherapy in CDIGPM-defined SKCM groups.

Method

Single-cell SKCM transcriptomes were utilized in conjunction with immune genes for the screening of CD8⁺ T cell-associated immune genes (CDIGs) for succeeding assessment. Thereafter, through protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks analysis, univariate COX analysis, and multivariate Cox analysis, six genes (MX1, RSAD2, IRF2, GBP2, IFITM1, and OAS2) were identified to construct a CDIGPM. We detected cell proliferation of SKCM cells transfected with IRF2 siRNA. Then, we analyzed the immunologic features and the benefits of immunotherapy in CDIGPM-defined groups.

Results

The overall survival (OS) was much better in low-CDIGPM group versus high CDIGPM group in TCGA dataset and GSE65904 dataset. On the whole, the results unfolded that a low CDIGPM showed relevance to immune response-correlated pathways, high expressions of CTLA4 and PD-L1, a high infiltration rate of CD8⁺ T cells, and more benefits from immunotherapy.

Conclusion

CDIGPM is an good model to predict the prognosis, the potential immune escape from immunotherapy for SKCM, and define immunologic and molecular features.

Lipid Nanoparticles for mRNA Delivery to Enhance Cancer Immunotherapy

Messenger RNA (mRNA) is being developed by researchers as a novel drug for the treatment or prevention of many diseases. However, to enable mRNA to fully exploit its effects in vivo, researchers need to develop safer and more effective mRNA delivery systems that improve mRNA stability and enhance the ability of cells to take up and release mRNA. To date, lipid nanoparticles are promising nanodrug carriers for tumor therapy, which can significantly improve the immunotherapeutic effects of conventional drugs by modulating mRNA delivery, and have attracted widespread interest in the biomedical field. This review focuses on the delivery of mRNA by lipid nanoparticles for cancer treatment. We summarize some common tumor immunotherapy and mRNA delivery strategies, describe the clinical advantages of lipid nanoparticles for mRNA delivery, and provide an outlook on the current challenges and future developments of this technology.

The Role of Surgery in the Treatment of Melanoma Pulmonary Metastases in the Modern Era

INTRODUCTION

The lung represents a frequent site of spread for metastatic melanoma, which has historically been managed with surgical resection achieving promising outcomes. We hypothesized that the role of surgery in the management of melanoma pulmonary metastases (MPM) is evolving among the development of less invasive diagnostic and novel systemic therapeutic strategies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A single-center thoracic surgery database was reviewed and patients who underwent surgical resection of MPM between 1998 and 2019 were identified. Demographic, clinicopathologic, and surgical data were collected and analyzed, as were the annual volumes and indications for surgical resection. A Cochran-Armitage test was used to assess the trend in surgical indication.

RESULTS

Three hundred and seventy seven surgical procedures for MPM were performed during the years of study in the care of 347 patients. Patients were predominantly male, with a mean age of 59.3 y. The mean number of annual resections was 17 and while this number initially increased from six in 1998 to a peak of 39 cases in 2008, a decline was subsequently observed. Diagnostic resection decreased from 22% in 1998-1999 to 5% at the peak of procedures in 2008-2009 and to 0 in 2018-2019 (P = 0.02). Curative resection increased from 44% in 1998-1999 to 73% in 2008-2009 (P < 0.001) and remained the dominant reason for surgery in later years.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical indications in the management of MPM have transformed in conjunction with systemic modalities, and the volume of resections has decreased in the modern era. Despite innovations in systemic management and shifting goals of operative interventions, surgeons continue to play a vital role in caring for these patients with an advanced disease.