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Updated: Dec 12, 2025
A 3D Organotypic Melanoma Spheroid Skin Model
Published on: May 18, 2018
Real-world treatment practice in patients with advanced melanoma
Bożena Cybulska-Stopa1, Karolina Piejko1, Renata Pacholczak1
1Clinical Oncology Department, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology Krakow Branch, Krakow, Poland.
Introduction:
The treatment outcomes of patients with advanced/metastatic melanoma were poor before the use of new therapeutic options.
Material And Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted among 287 patients with unresectable stage III and stage IV melanoma treated at the Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology Cracow Branch, from 2013 to 2019. All enrolled patients were treated with immunotherapy (IT; consisting of pembrolizumab/nivolumab, or ipilimumab) or target therapy (TT; consisting of vemurafenib ±cobimetinib or dabrafenib ±trametinib) in at least one treatment line.
Results:
mutation was detected in 152 (55%) patients. In general, the majority of patients (92%) were in very good or good condition (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group [ECOG] 0 or 1). Brain metastasis was detected in 64 (22%) patients. Median OS and PFS in the experimental group from the beginning of the first-line treatment were 14.9 and 6.7 months, respectively. Across the study population, as a first-line treatment patients received IT, TT as well as CHT, and the median OS was 19.2, 12.6 and 15.9 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis confirmed that normal LDH levels, no brain metastases, ECOG 0, and objective response to the treatment were strong predictors of longer OS. For PFS, absence of brain metastases, ECOG 0, and treatment response were found to be predictive factors on multivariate analysis.
Conclusions:
The administration of new therapies for the treatment of patients with advanced/disseminated melanoma significantly prolonged survival in this group of patients. Nevertheless, further studies should be conducted to assess the effectiveness of various sequences of treatment.
Insights
New immunotherapies and targeted therapies significantly improved survival for advanced melanoma patients. Factors like good ECOG status and absence of brain metastases predict longer overall survival and progression-free survival.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Research
Background:
- Advanced melanoma treatment outcomes were historically poor.
- Emergence of novel therapeutic options has transformed patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of immunotherapy (IT) and targeted therapy (TT) in patients with advanced/metastatic melanoma.
- To identify predictors of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 287 unresectable stage III/IV melanoma patients (2013-2019).
- Patients received IT (pembrolizumab/nivolumab, ipilimumab) or TT (vemurafenib ±cobimetinib, dabrafenib ±trametinib).
Main Results:
- Median OS and PFS were 14.9 and 6.7 months, respectively.
- First-line IT, TT, and chemotherapy (CHT) showed median OS of 19.2, 12.6, and 15.9 months.
- Normal LDH, no brain metastases, ECOG 0, and objective response predicted longer OS and PFS.
Conclusions:
- Novel therapies significantly improved survival in advanced melanoma.
- Further research is needed to optimize treatment sequences.
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