Circulating Tumour DNA Is an Independent Prognostic Biomarker for Survival in Metastatic or -Mutated Melanoma Patients.

Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) can be used to identify gene alterations. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the detection of ctDNA, based on the identification of and mutations before systemic treatment initiation, was associated with the prognosis of metastatic melanoma. In total, 68 or -mutated stage IV or unresectable stage III metastatic cutaneous melanoma patients were included and tested for the presence of and mutations in circulating DNA before treatment initiation, using the Cobas BRAF/NRAS Mutation Test (Roche). The expected mutation was detected in the plasma of 34/68 patients (50% sensitivity). ctDNA detection was associated with AJCC stage, along with the number and nature of metastases. ctDNA was less frequently detected in -mutated than in -mutated melanoma (36% and 66%, respectively). At initiation of first-line treatment, ctDNA detection was associated with poor prognosis in Progression Free Survival (PFS) and Overall Survival (OS) in univariate analysis (log-rank: = 0.002 and < 0.0001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, ctDNA detection was an independent factor of poor prognosis in OS, after adjustment for AJCC stage, number and nature of metastases and gender (HR = 4.384; 95% CI: (1.308; 14.699); = 0.017).