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Prognostic Value of Lactate Dehydrogenase in Patients with Melanoma Treated with Pembrolizumab
Aleksandar Popović1, Ivan Petković, Aleksandra Dimitrijevic
1Aleksandar Popovic, MD, Clinic of Oncology, University Clinical Center Niš, Dr. Zorana Djindjica 48, Niš, Serbia; popovic992@yahoo.com.
Introduction:
Elevated LDH levels have been extensively reported as a biomarker of poorer outcome in patients with melanoma during the chemotherapeutic era. The role of LDH level as a prognostic factor for treatment outcomes in patients with metastatic melanoma treated with immunooncological therapy has also been reported but requires further analysis.
Objectives:
In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) among patients with metastatic and unresectable melanoma treated with pembrolizumab in terms of progression-free survival (PFS).
Methods:
The study included 59 patients with unresectable and metastatic melanoma treated with pembrolizumab. A comparison was performed between patients with normal and elevated levels of LDH in terms of PFS, with subgroup analysis.
Results:
There was a significant reduction in PFS among patients with elevated levels of LDH compared with patients with normal levels of LDH (NR vs. 5 months; P=0.02). Patients with elevated LDH levels were older (P=0.01), with liver metastasis (P=0.004), and with less frequent CNS deposits (P=0.028).
Conclusion:
Although novel agents improved outcomes in patients with melanoma, high levels of LDH persist as an independent prognostic biomarker of poor prognosis.
