Testing of tumor tissue remains the recommended method for detecting the presence of somatic mutations in human malignancies. V600E is the most frequent somatic point mutation in metastatic melanoma, providing a unique molecular marker for this malignancy. In addition, tumors carrying this mutation are primary candidates for BRAF-targeted therapy. Although metastatic melanoma patients usually have sufficient tumor tissue available for genetic analyses, the detection of V600E in blood can have prognostic and predictive value. In addition, patients are rarely re-biopsied and genetic testing in blood can be useful for monitoring response to therapy. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and cell-free RNA (cfRNA), RNA associated to platelets and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are some of the materials that can be derived from the blood of cancer patients. cfDNA can be easily purified from serum and plasma and contains DNA fragments of tumor origin. For this reason, it is the most widely used material for the detection of somatic mutations in blood. Several methodologies have been used to determine V600E status in the cfDNA of metastatic melanoma and some studies have demonstrated that the identification and follow-up of V600E in cfDNA can have prognostic and predictive value.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3978/j.issn.2305-5839.2015.11.23 | DOI Listing |
Cells under high confinement form highly polarized hydrostatic pressure-driven, stable leader blebs that enable efficient migration in low adhesion, environments. Here we investigated the basis of the polarized bleb morphology of metastatic melanoma cells migrating in non-adhesive confinement. Using high-resolution time-lapse imaging and specific molecular perturbations, we found that EGF signaling via PI3K stabilizes and maintains a polarized leader bleb.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImmunooncol Technol
December 2024
National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.
Background: Despite significant advancements in the treatment of malignant melanoma, metastatic mucosal melanoma remains a therapeutic challenge due to its complex pathogenesis, distinct pathological characteristics, and limited response to immunotherapy. Combining different immunotherapeutic approaches offers a potential strategy to address these challenges. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy and oncolytic virus therapy represent promising treatment modalities that may synergize with each other.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlobal Spine J
January 2025
Combined Neurosurgical and Orthopedic Spine Program, Department of Orthopedics Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Study Design: Narrative Literature review.
Objective: To provide a general overview of important molecular markers and targeted therapies for the most common neoplasms (lung, breast, prostate and melanoma) that metastasize to the spine and offer guidance on how to best incorporate them in the clinical setting.
Methods: A narrative review of the literature was performed using PubMed, Google Scholar, Medline databases, as well as the histology-specific National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines to identify relevant articles limited to the English language.
Bull Cancer
January 2025
Palliative Care Unit, ULR 2694 METRICS, CHU de Lille, Université de Lille, 59000 Lille, France.
Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibition has revolutionized the management of metastatic melanoma, including in the final stages of disease progression: because it is well tolerated, some teams do not discontinue it in hopes of slowing disease progression. The risks are that treatment may be continued unnecessarily, causing side effects, and reduce access to specialist palliative care, in addition to increasing the cost of treatment.
Method: We explored the experiences of 10 patients in a university hospital with metastatic melanoma under continued immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with specialist palliative care.
J Immunother Cancer
January 2025
Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
Background: The use of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes (TIL) that recognize cancer neoantigens has led to lasting remissions in metastatic melanoma and certain cases of metastatic epithelial cancer. For the treatment of the latter, selecting cells for therapy typically involves laborious screening of TIL for recognition of autologous tumor-specific mutations, detected through next-generation sequencing of freshly resected metastatic tumors. Our study explored the feasibility of using archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) primary tumor samples for cancer neoantigen discovery, to potentially expedite this process and reduce the need for resections normally required for tumor sequencing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!