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Melanoma Brain Metastases in the Era of Targeted Therapy and Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Melanoma Brain Metastases in the Era of Targeted Therapy and Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy

John M Rieth, Umang Swami, Sarah L Mott, Mario Zanaty, Michael D Henry, Aaron D Bossler, Jeremy D Greenlee, Yousef Zakharia, Marion Vanneste, Brooke Jennings, …
Cancers, Vol.13(7), p.1489
03/24/2021
DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071489
PMCID: PMC8037963
PMID: 33804910
url
https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13071489View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Brain metastases commonly develop in melanoma and are associated with poor overall survival of about five to nine months. Fortunately, new therapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and BRAF/MEK inhibitors, have been developed. The aim of this study was to identify outcomes of different treatment strategies in patients with melanoma brain metastases in the era of checkpoint inhibitors. Patients with brain metastases secondary to melanoma were identified at a single institution. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to identify baseline and treatment factors, which correlated with progression-free and overall survival. A total of 209 patients with melanoma brain metastases were identified. The median overall survival of the cohort was 5.3 months. On multivariable analysis, the presence of non-cranial metastatic disease, poor performance status (ECOG 2-4), whole-brain radiation therapy, and older age at diagnosis of brain metastasis were associated with poorer overall survival. Craniotomy (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.45-0.97) and treatment with a CTLA-4 checkpoint inhibitor (HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.32-0.94) were the only interventions associated with improved overall survival. Further studies with novel agents are needed to extend lifespan in patients with brain metastases in melanoma.
Metastasis melanoma prognosis clinical cancer research survival cancer management

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