Biomarkers in Immunotherapy of Melanoma

Study Purpose

Background: Immunotherapy has been successful in treating advanced melanoma, but a large proportion of patients do not respond to the treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Preclinical and small cohort studies suggest biomarkers from the primary tumor, stool and body fluids as markers of response. This prospective study will evaluate gastrointestinal microbiome (bacterial spices and virome) composition and exosomal mRNA expression of PD-L1 and IFNγ correlation with radiological response rates to ICIs treatment of advanced melanoma patients. Methods: Patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors as a first line treatment for metastatic melanoma are recruted to the study. Stool samples are submitted before the start of treatment, at the 12 (+/-2) week and 28 (+/-4) week, and at the event ( such as, suspected disease progression/hyperprogressio, immune related adverse event (irAE), etc). Peripheral venous blood samples are taken additionaly at the same time points for cytologic and molecular tests. Histological material from the tumor tissue is obtained before the start of immunotherapy treatment. Primary objectives are to determine whether human gastrointestinal microbiome (bacterial and viral) and exosomal mRNA expression of PD-L1 and IFNγ predict response to treatment with PD-1 and CTLA-4 inhibitors and are associated with occurrence of irAE in patients with metastatic melanoma at different time points. Response is evaluated radiologically with imaging methods in accordance with the irRECIST criteria. Conclussion: Despite the great success of the treatment of metastatic melanoma with immunotherapy, there remains a significant proportion of patients who do not respond to treatment or who develop severe adverse events during treatment. Identification of novel predictive and prognostic biomarkers for immunotherapy treatment response is therefore necessary. This study is the first to combine and investigate multiple potential predictive and prognostic biomarkers and its dynamics. The results could serve for a better and multi-level understanding of the various factors influencing immunotherapy treatment.

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms

No
Study Type

An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes.


An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.


Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies.

Interventional
Eligible Ages 18 Years and Over
Gender All
More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • - Age over 18 years.
  • - Cytologically or histologically verified malignant melanoma.
  • - Stage IIID unresectable/IV according to AJCC classification (8th edition, 2018) - Performance status according to WHO 0 - 2 (ECOG criteria) - 1st line of systemic treatment with immunotherapy (nivolumab, ipi/nivo, pembrolizumab) - Triple CT/PET CT done within 4 weeks before the first application.
  • - Signed consent to participate in clinical research.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • - Previously treated melanoma with systemic therapy.
- Capacity status according to WHO 3 - 4 (ECOG criteria) - Contraindications for immunotherapy treatment (known deficiency of the immune system or active immunosuppressive treatment or active autoimmune disease requiring treatment) - Other malignant diseases (except cured basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma)

Trial Details

Trial ID:

This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries.

NCT05878977
Phase

Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans.

Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data.

Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs.

Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use.

N/A
Lead Sponsor

The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data.

Institute of Oncology Ljubljana
Principal Investigator

The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study.

N/A
Principal Investigator Affiliation N/A
Agency Class

Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial.

Other
Overall Status Recruiting
Countries Slovenia
Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied.

Metastatic Melanoma, Immune Checkpoints Inhibitors, Gastrointestinal Microbiome (Bacterial and Viral), Exosomal mRNA Expression of PD-L1 and IFNγ
Arms & Interventions

Arms

Other: Immune checkpoint inhibitors

Interventions

Drug: - Immune checkpoint inhibitor

Identification of novel predictive and prognostic biomarkers for immunotherapy treatment response in metastatic melanoma

Contact a Trial Team

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International Sites

Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Status

Recruiting

Address

Institute of Oncology Ljubljana

Ljubljana, ,

Site Contact

Tanja Mesti

[email protected]

+38615879287

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