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RNA-seq and scRNA-seq count data and TCR contigs

Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC) are immunogenic skin cancers associated with viral infection or UV mutagenesis. To study T-cell infiltrates in MCC, we analyzed 58 MCC lesions from 39 patients using multiplex-IHC/immunofluorescence (m-IHC/IF). CD4+ or CD8+ T cells comprised the majority of infiltrating T lymphocytes in most tumors. However, almost half of the tumors harbored prominent CD4/CD8 double-negative (DN) T-cell infiltrates (>20% DN T cells), and in 12% of cases, DN T cells represented the majority of T cells. Flow cytometric analysis of single-cell suspensions from fresh tumors identified DN T cells as predominantly Vδ2− γδ T cells. In the context of γδ T–cell inflammation, these cells expressed PD-1 and LAG3, which is consistent with a suppressed or exhausted phenotype, and CD103, which indicates tissue residency. Furthermore, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) identified a transcriptional profile of γδ T cells suggestive of proinflammatory potential. T-cell receptor (TCR) analysis confirmed clonal expansion of Vδ1 and Vδ3 clonotypes, and functional studies using cloned γδ TCRs demonstrated restriction of these for CD1c and MR1 antigen-presenting molecules. On the basis of a 13-gene γδ T–cell signature derived from scRNA-seq analysis, gene-set enrichment on bulk RNA-seq data showed a positive correlation between enrichment scores and DN T-cell infiltrates. An improved disease-specific survival was evident for patients with high enrichment scores, and complete responses to anti–PD-1/PD-L1 treatment were observed in three of four cases with high enrichment scores. Thus, γδ T–cell infiltration may serve as a prognostic biomarker and should be explored for therapeutic interventions.See related Spotlight on p. 600

Purpose: A topical Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonist induces regression of cutaneous melanocytic neoplasms. We explored antitumor activity of a systemically administered TLR7 agonist, 852A, in patients with metastatic melanoma.Experimental Design: We undertook a phase II, multicenter, open-label study in patients with chemotherapy-refractory metastatic melanoma. Patients received i.v. 852A, starting at 0.6 mg/m2 and increasing to 0.9 mg/m2 based on tolerance, thrice per week for 12 weeks. Clinical response was determined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Immune effects of 852A were monitored by measuring serum type I IFN and IP-10 together with assessment of immune cell markers in peripheral blood.Results: Twenty-one patients were enrolled. Thirteen patients completed the initial 12-week treatment cycle, with two discontinuing for adverse events considered to be possibly related to study drug. Four (19%) patients had disease stabilization for >100 days. One patient had a partial remission after two treatment cycles, but progressed during the third. Dose-limiting toxicity was observed in two patients. Serum type I IFN and IP-10 increased in most patients on 852A administration. Serum type I IFN increases were greater after dosing with 852A 0.9 mg/m2 than after 0.6 mg/m2 (P = 0.009). The maximal increase in IP-10 compared with baseline correlated with the maximal increase in type I IFN (P = 0.003). In the eight patients with immune cell marker data, CD86 expression on monocytes increased significantly post-first dose (P = 0.007).Conclusion: Intravenous 852A was well tolerated and induced systemic immune activation that eventually resulted in prolonged disease stabilization in some patients with stage IV metastatic melanoma who had failed chemotherapy.

Supplementary Table S1 from An Exploratory Study of Systemic Administration of the Toll-like Receptor-7 Agonist 852A in Patients with Refractory Metastatic Melanoma

Supplementary Figures 1-2, Methods from Antibodies to Merkel Cell Polyomavirus T Antigen Oncoproteins Reflect Tumor Burden in Merkel Cell Carcinoma Patients

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly aggressive neuroendocrine cancer of the skin. For patients who are refractory to immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI), treatment options are limited. Few cases of MCCs with high somatostatin receptor (SSTR) expression were reported to show responses upon SSTR-directed peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). A combination of PRRT and ICI has not been reported in MCC to date. A 60-year old man with metastatic MCC, who was primarily resistant to the anti-PD-L1 ICI with avelumab and secondarily resistant to the anti-CTLA4 plus anti-PD-1 ICI therapy with ipilimumab plus nivolumab (IPI/NIVO) with additional RT, presented with multiple bone and lymph node metastases. After confirmation of SSTR expression, the patient was treated with a salvage therapy of additional four doses of IPI/NIVO combined with two cycles of PRRT. Treatment was well tolerated with transient hematoxicity and mild nausea. Re-staging three months after therapy start showed an exceptional good response. This case report demonstrates the feasibility of a combined treatment with IPI/NIVO and PRRT as a salvage option for MCC patients progressing under ICI therapy. Prospective evidence confirming the additive value of combining ICI and radionuclide therapy in a larger cohort is needed.

Spitzoid neoplasms are a challenging group of cutaneous melanocytic proliferations. They are characterized by epithelioid and/or spindle‐shaped melanocytes and classified as benign Spitz nevi (SN), atypical Spitz tumors (AST), or malignant Spitz tumors (MST). The intermediate AST category represents a diagnostically challenging group since on purely histopathological grounds, their benign or malignant character remains unpredictable. This results in uncertainties in patient treatment and prognosis. The molecular properties of Spitzoid lesions, especially their transcriptomic landscape, remain poorly understood, and genomic alterations in melanoma‐associated oncogenes are typically absent. The aim of this study was to characterize their transcriptome with digital mRNA expression profiling. Formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded samples (including 27 SN, 10 AST, and 14 MST) were analyzed using the NanoString nCounter PanCancer Pathways Panel. The number of significantly differentially expressed genes in SN vs. MST, SN vs. AST, and AST vs. MST was 68, 167, and 18, respectively. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed upregulation of pathways related to epithelial–mesenchymal transition and immunomodulatory‐, angiogenesis‐, hormonal‐, and myogenesis‐associated processes in AST and MST. A molecular signature of SN vs. MST was discovered based on the top‐ranked most informative genes: NRAS, NF1, BMP2, EIF2B4, IFNA17, and FZD9. The AST samples showed intermediate levels of the identified signature. This implies that the gene signature can potentially be used to distinguish high‐grade from low‐grade AST with a larger study cohort in the future. This combined histopathological and transcriptomic methodology is promising for prospective diagnostics of Spitzoid neoplasms and patient management in dermatological oncology., Spitzoid neoplasms are cutaneous melanocytic proliferations and classified as benign Spitz nevi (SN), atypical Spitz tumors (AST), or malignant Spitz tumors (MST). In particular, AST are challenging since on histopathological grounds, their benign or malignant potential is unpredictable. We characterized their transcriptome with digital mRNA expression profiling. A molecular signature was discovered, which might be promising for diagnostics in dermatological oncology.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text., The molecular properties of benign melanocytic lesions are poorly understood. Only a few studies have been carried out on specific nevi subtypes, including common nevocellular nevi (NCN) or Spitz nevi (SN). Genomic alterations in melanoma-associated oncogenes are typically absent in SN. In the present study, mRNA expressions of 25 SN and 15 NCN were analyzed. Molecular profiling was performed using the RNA NanoString nCounter Gene Expression Platform (number of genes=770). Marker discovery was performed with a training set consisting of seven SN and seven NCN samples from the same patients, and validation was performed using a second set consisting of 18 SN and eight NCN samples. Using the training set, 197 differentially expressed genes were identified in SN versus NCN. Of these, 74 genes were validated in the validation set (false discovery rate q≤0.13). In addition, using random forest and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator feature selection, a molecular signature of SN versus NCN was identified including 15 top-ranked genes. The present study identified a distinct molecular expression profile in SN compared with NCN, even when lesions were obtained from the same patients. Gene set analysis showed upregulation of gene pathways with increased expression of transcripts related to immunomodulatory, inflammatory, and extracellular matrix interactions as well as angiogenesis-associated processes in SN. These findings strongly indicate that SN represent a distinct group of melanocytic neoplasms and evolve differentially and not sequentially from NCN.

Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC) are immunogenic skin cancers associated with viral infection or UV mutagenesis. To study T-cell infiltrates in MCC, we analyzed 58 MCC lesions from 39 patients using multiplex-IHC/immunofluorescence (m-IHC/IF). CD4+ or CD8+ T cells comprised the majority of infiltrating T lymphocytes in most tumors. However, almost half of the tumors harbored prominent CD4/CD8 double-negative (DN) T-cell infiltrates (>20% DN T cells), and in 12% of cases, DN T cells represented the majority of T cells. Flow cytometric analysis of single-cell suspensions from fresh tumors identified DN T cells as predominantly Vδ2− γδ T cells. In the context of γδ T–cell inflammation, these cells expressed PD-1 and LAG3, which is consistent with a suppressed or exhausted phenotype, and CD103, which indicates tissue residency. Furthermore, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) identified a transcriptional profile of γδ T cells suggestive of proinflammatory potential. T-cell receptor (TCR) analysis confirmed clonal expansion of Vδ1 and Vδ3 clonotypes, and functional studies using cloned γδ TCRs demonstrated restriction of these for CD1c and MR1 antigen-presenting molecules. On the basis of a 13-gene γδ T–cell signature derived from scRNA-seq analysis, gene-set enrichment on bulk RNA-seq data showed a positive correlation between enrichment scores and DN T-cell infiltrates. An improved disease-specific survival was evident for patients with high enrichment scores, and complete responses to anti–PD-1/PD-L1 treatment were observed in three of four cases with high enrichment scores. Thus, γδ T–cell infiltration may serve as a prognostic biomarker and should be explored for therapeutic interventions. See related Spotlight on p. 600

Purpose miR-375 is a highly abundant miRNAs in Merkel cell carcinoma. miR-375 may act as a tumor suppressor or oncogene depending on the cell context. While miR-375 is present as circulating free in the serum of patients with advanced MCC and thus serves as surrogate marker for tumor burden, its function within MCC has not been established. Methods miR-375 knockdown was performed using miR-375 antagomiRs via lipofectamine transfection or nucleofection in classical MCC cell lines WaGa and PeTa. Viability and both changes in growth characteristics as well as morphology were determined. Genes targeted by miR-375 were predicted using ENCORI; based on these miR-375 regulated signaling pathways were determined by genes ontology (GO) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Expression of these genes was analyzed by multiplexed RT-qPCR to check the effect of miR-375 knockdown on these signaling pathways. Results Complete knockdown of miR-375 expression by antagomiRs was only achieved by using nucleofection. This knockdown did not affect cell growth pattern, morphology, or proliferative capacity. miR-375 predicted target genes GO analysis revealed that Hippo signaling and focal adhesion-related genes were likely to be regulated by miR-375. GSEA of gene expression data of MCC cell lines further strengthened the regulation of Focal adhesion-related genes by miR-375. However, gene expression analysis revealed that miR-375 knockdown had only a limited effect on expression of these pathways related genes. Conclusions Complete miR-375 knockdown did neither change cell viability, morphology, nor oncogenic signaling pathways; these observations render miR-375 unlikely as intracellular oncogene in MCC cells.

Staphylococcus aureus is implicated in disease progression in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Here, we demonstrate that malignant T cell lines derived from CTCL patients as well as primary malignant CD4+ T cells from Sézary syndrome patients are considerably more resistant to alpha-toxin-induced cell death than their non-malignant counterparts. Thus, in a subset of Sézary syndrome patients the ratio between malignant and non-malignant CD4+ T cells increases significantly following exposure to alpha-toxin. Whereas toxin-induced cell death is ADAM10 dependent in healthy CD4+ T cells, resistance to alpha-toxin in malignant T cells involves both downregulation of ADAM10 as well as other resistance mechanisms. In conclusion, we provide first evidence that Staphylococcus aureus derived alpha-toxin can tilt the balance between malignant and non-malignant CD4+ T cells in CTCL patients. Consequently, alpha-toxin may promote disease progression through positive selection of malignant CD4+ T cells, identifying alpha-toxin as a putative drug target in CTCL.

Spitzoid neoplasms are a distinct group of melanocytic proliferations characterized by epithelioid and/ or spindle shaped melanocytes. Intermediate forms that share features of both benign Spitz nevi (SN) and Spitz melanoma, i.e., malignant Spitz tumor (MST) represent a diagnostically and clinically challenging group of melanocytic lesions. A multitude of descriptive diagnostic terms exist for these ambiguous lesions with atypical Spitz tumor (AST) or Spitz tumor of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) just naming two of them. This diagnostic gray zone creates confusion and high insecurity in clinicians and in patients. Biological behavior and clinical course of this intermediate group still remains largely unknown, often leading to difficulties with uncertainties in clinical management and prognosis. Consequently, a better stratification of Spitzoid neoplasms in benign and malignant forms is required thereby keeping the diagnostic group of AST/STUMP as small as possible. Ancillary diagnostic techniques such as immunohistochemistry, comparative genomic hybridization, fluorescence in situ hybridization, next generation sequencing, micro RNA and mRNA analysis as well as mass spectrometry imaging offer new opportunities for the distinct diagnosis, thereby allowing the best clinical management of Spitzoid neoplasms. This review gives an overview on these additional diagnostic techniques and the recent developments in the field of molecular genetic alterations in Spitzoid neoplasms. We also discuss how the recent findings might facilitate the diagnosis and stratification of atypical Spitzoid neoplasms and how these findings will impact the diagnostic work up as well as patient management. We suggest a stepwise implementation of ancillary diagnostic techniques thereby integrating immunohistochemistry and molecular pathology findings in the diagnosis of challenging ambiguous Spitzoid neoplasms. Finally, we will give an outlook on pending future research objectives in the field of Spitzoid melanocytic lesions. ispartof: FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE vol:5 issue:DEC ispartof: location:Switzerland status: published

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly aggressive, often lethal neuroendocrine cancer. Its carcinogenesis may be either caused by the clonal integration of the Merkel cell polyomavirus into the host genome or by UV-induced mutations. Notably, virally-encoded oncoproteins and UV-induced mutations affect comparable signaling pathways such as RB restriction of cell cycle progression or p53 inactivation. Despite its low incidence, MCC recently received much attention based on its exquisite immunogenicity and the resulting major success of immune modulating therapies. Here, we summarize current knowledge on epidemiology, biology and therapy of MCC as conclusion of the project ‘Immune Modulating strategies for treatment of Merkel Cell Carcinoma’, which was funded over a 5-year period by the European Commission to investigate innovative immunotherapies for MCC.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare skin cancer that is associated with Merkel cell polyomavirus infection in most cases. Incidence rates of MCC have increased in past decades. Risk factors for MCC include ultraviolet light exposure, immunosuppression and advanced age. MCC is an aggressive malignancy with frequent recurrences and a high mortality rate, although patient outcomes are generally more favourable if the patient is referred for treatment at an early stage. Although advances have been made recently in the MCC field, large gaps remain with regard to definitive biomarkers and prognostic indicators. Although MCC is chemosensitive, responses in advanced stages are mostly of short duration, and the associated clinical benefit on overall survival is unclear. Recent nonrandomised phase 2 clinical trials with antiePD-L1/PD-1 antibodies have demonstrated safety and efficacy; however, there are still no approved treatments for patients with metastatic MCC. Patients with advanced disease are encouraged to participate in clinical trials for treatment, indicating the largely unmet need for durable, safe treatment within this population. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

The Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is detected in 80% of Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC). Clonal integration and tumor-specific mutations in the large T antigen are strong arguments that MCPyV is a human tumor virus. However, the relationship between viral presence and cancer induction remains discussed controversially. Since almost all studies on virus prevalence are based on PCR techniques, we performed MCPyV fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on MCC to gain information about the quality of the viral presence on the single cell level. MCPyV-FISH was performed on tissue microarrays containing 62 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue samples including all tumor grades of 42 patients. The hybridization patterns were correlated to the qPCR data determined on corresponding whole tissue sections. Indeed, MCPyV-FISH and qPCR data were highly correlated, i.e. 83% for FISH-positive and 93% for FISH-negative cores. Accordingly, the mean of the qPCR values of all MCPyV-positive cores differed significantly from the mean of the negative cores (p = 0.0076). Importantly, two hybridization patterns were definable in the MCPyV-FISH: a punctate pattern (85%) indicating viral integration, which correlated with a moderate viral abundance and a combination of the punctate with a diffuse pattern (15%), suggesting a possible coexistence of integrated and episomal virus which was associated with very high viral load and VP1 expression. Thus, MCPyV-FISH adds important information on the single cell level within the histomorphological context and could therefore be an important tool to further elucidate MCPyV related carcinogenesis.

CV8102 comprises a single-stranded non-coding RNA complexed with a cationic peptide. It acts as an agonist to TLR-7/-8 and RIG-I (Ziegler 2018) to stimulate the innate and adaptive immune system. CV8102 was shown to induce an upregulation of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and IFN-γ related genes at the injection site along with an activation of T, NK, NKT and migratory dendritic cells in the draining lymph nodes (Heidenreich 2015). Intratumoral (IT) CV8102 demonstrated dose-dependent anti-tumor activity and synergized with systemic PD-1 inhibition in preclinical models. Methods This Phase I study investigates IT CV8102 as single agent and in combination with systemic anti-PD-1 antibodies (as per product label). Patients (pts) with advanced inoperable melanoma (MEL), cutaneous/head and neck squamous cell or adenoid cystic carcinoma (cSCC, SCCHN, ACC) are eligible for single agent CV8102, pts with MEL and SCCHN who did not respond or slowly progressed on anti-PD-1 therapy are eligible for the combination. CV8102 is administered for up to 8 IT injections into a single accessible tumor lesion over a 12-week period. A Bayesian logistic regression model with overdose control is used for the dose escalation parts. Response is assessed by RECIST 1.1/irRECIST (injected and non-injected target lesions). Pre- and on-treatment samples are collected for biomarker analyses. Results A total of 20 pts have been treated with either CV8102 alone (N=15: 6 MEL, 2 SCCHN, 5 ACC, 2 cSCC) or CV8102 in combination with anti-PD-1 (N=5: 4 MEL, 1 SCCHN). Dose cohorts with doses up to 150 µg (CV8102 alone) and 100µg (CV8102+anti-PD-1) have been completed. Most common AEs were mild to moderate flu-like symptoms and injection site reactions. No dose limiting toxicities (DLT) were observed during the DLT period of the first two weeks of treatment. 12 pts treated with CV8102 alone were evaluable for response assessment. 1 MEL pt treated at 150µg experienced a complete regression of injected and non-injected lesions. This patient also experienced a marked increase of IL-6 and CRP at 6 and 24 hours after the first injection, respectively. 7 pts achieved stable disease, with two pts treated at 100 µg (SCCHN pt) and 200µg (MEL pt who had developed acquired resistance to previous anti-PD-1 therapy) showing regression of non-injected lymph node lesions. Dose escalation parts are continuing, updated safety and efficacy results will be presented. Conclusion Intratumoral single agent CV8102 appears well tolerated and showed preliminary evidence of clinical efficacy with shrinkage of injected and non-injected lesions. Citation Format: Thomas Eigentler, Juergen Krauss, Jutta Schreiber, Carsten Weishaupt, Patrick Terheyden, Lucie Heinzerling, Peter Mohr, Benjamin Weide, Ralf Gutzmer, Juergen C. Becker, Felix Kiecker, Angelika Daehling, Fatma Funkner, Regina Heidenreich, Sarah-Katharina Kays, Ute Klinkhardt, Birgit Scheel, Oliver Schoenborn-Kellenberger, Tobias Seibel, Claudia Stosnach, Tanja Strack, Ulrike Gnad-Vogt. Intratumoral RNA-based TLR-7/-8 and RIG-I agonist CV8102 alone and in combination with anti-PD-1 in a Phase I dose-escalation and expansion trial in patients with advanced solid tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-021.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, highly aggressive skin cancer prevalent in elderly and immunocompromised patients. MCC is highly immunogenic as it is either associated with Merkel cell polyoma virus (MCPyV) integration or UV-associated mutations in non-viral cases. Indeed, immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) like PD-1/PD-L1 blocking antibodies exert a strong clinical activity; however, primary or secondary resistance often occurs. Domatinostat (4SC-202) is an orally available small molecule inhibitor targeting histone deacetylases (HDAC) class I currently in clinical evaluation to improve response to CPI (SENSITIZE, NCT03278665). In syngeneic tumor mouse models domatinostat treatment demonstrated immune-modulatory effects by increasing the intra-tumoral infiltration of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells (CTLs) and enhancing gene expression of a CPI response signature. Immune escape mechanisms described for MCC include low intra-tumoral levels of CTLs and reduced expression of antigen-presenting MHC class I molecules. Our previous data suggest that low MHC-I levels are reversible and involve epigenetic silencing of genes encoding the antigen-processing machinery (APM). Here, we present novel preclinical data about the efficacy and mode of action of domatinostat in MCC. Global gene expression by single cell RNA-seq revealed regulation of genes involved, among others, in apoptosis and antigen presentation. Importantly, domatinostat additionally inhibited proliferation of MCC cell lines by induction of a G2M cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. Moreover, expression of MCPyV-encoded transforming early genes, particularly during the G1-phase, was inhibited by domatinostat. Thus, it exerts also a direct anti-tumoral effect. In viable cells, domatinostat increases their susceptibility to immune responses, as qPCR and immunoblot analysis confirmed the induction of APM and MHC-I expression by domatinostat. APM and MHC-I expression has been reported to be restored by an epigenetic drug combination (vorinostat plus mithramycin). In contrast, we now provide evidence that the single agent treatment with domatinostat alone is sufficient for increasing immunogenicity of MCC cells. In summary, domatinostat counteracts immune escape of MCC in many aspects suggesting a combination treatment of the HDACi domatinostat with CPI as a promising therapeutic strategy. Prospective clinical trials are needed to confirm this hypothesis. Citation Format: Lina Song, Anne Catherine Bretz, Jan Gravemeyer, Ivelina Spassova, Svetlana Hamm, Shakhlo Muminova, Rene Bartz, Juergen C. Becker. Domatinostat increases apoptosis, G2M cell-cycle arrest and immunogenicity of Merkel cell carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2368.

Purpose Active immunization against the tumor-specific MAGE-A3 antigen is followed by a few but impressive and durable clinical responses. This randomized phase II trial evaluated two different immunostimulants combined with the MAGE-A3 protein to investigate whether a more robust and persistent immune response could be associated with increased clinical benefit. Patients and Methods Patients with MAGE-A3–positive stage III or IV M1a melanoma were randomly assigned to receive the MAGE-A3 protein combined either with AS02B or with AS15 immunostimulant. Clinical end points were toxicity and rates of objective clinical responses, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Results Seventy-five patients were treated, with 36 eligible patients per arm. Both treatments were well tolerated. In the AS15 arm, four objective responses were observed (three complete responses and one partial response) versus one partial response in the AS02B arm. In the AS15 and AS02B arms, the PFS rates after 6 months were 25% and 14%, respectively; and the median OS times were 33 months and 19.9 months, respectively, with a median observation period of 48 months. Antibodies against MAGE-A3, found in all patients, showed three-fold higher titers in the AS15 arm. The anti–MAGE-A3 cellular response was also more pronounced in the AS15 arm. Conclusion In the MAGE-A3+AS15 arm, clinical activity was higher and the immune response more robust. Therefore, the AS15 immunostimulant was selected for combination with the MAGE-A3 protein in phase III trials.

Acquired reactive perforating collagenosis is a perforating dermatosis usually associated with different systemic diseases, mainly diabetes mellitus and/or chronic renal insufficiency. Different therapies have been tried but treatment is not standardized yet and remains a challenge. In the last few years, allopurinol has been reported as a good therapeutic option for acquired reactive perforating collagenosis. We describe the case of a 73-year-old man affected by acquired reactive perforating collagenosis associated with diabetes type 1 and chronic renal failure with secondary hyperparathyroidism. The patient was successfully treated with allopurinol 100mg once/day p.o..

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and highly aggressive skin cancer associated with the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV). As MCC cell lines show oncogene addiction to the MCV T antigens, pharmacologic interference of the large T antigen (LTA) may represent an effective therapeutic approach for this deadly cancer. In this study, we investigated the effects of IFNs on MCC cell lines, especially on MCV-positive (MCV+) lines. Type I IFNs (i.e., Multiferon, a mix of different IFN-α subtypes, and IFN-β) strongly inhibited the cellular viability. Cell-cycle analysis showed increased sub-G fractions for these cells upon IFN treatment indicating apoptotic cell death; these effects were less pronounced for IFN-γ. Notably, this inhibitory effect of type I IFNs on MCV+ MCC cell lines was associated with a reduced expression of the MCV LTA as well as an increased expression of promyelocytic leukemia (PML) protein, which is known to interfere with the function of the LTA. In addition, the intratumoral application of Multiferon resulted in a regression of MCV+ but not MCV− MCCs in vivo. Together, our findings show that type I IFNs have a strong antitumor effect, which is at least in part explained by modulation of the virally encoded LTA. Cancer Res; 72(8); 2120–8. ©2012 AACR.

Adult skin stem cells do not protect their genome by asymmetric chromosome segregation; thus, they are prone to accumulating oncogenic mutations.

Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is a common infectious agent that is likely involved in the etiology of most Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC). Serum antibodies recognizing the MCPyV capsid protein VP1 are detectable at high titer in nearly all MCC patients and remain stable over time. Although antibodies to the viral capsid indicate prior MCPyV infection, they provide limited clinical insight into MCC because they are also detected in more than half of the general population. We investigated whether antibodies recognizing MCPyV large and small tumor-associated antigens (T-Ag) would be more specifically associated with MCC. Among 530 population control subjects, these antibodies were present in only 0.9% and were of low titer. In contrast, among 205 MCC cases, 40.5% had serum IgG antibodies that recognize a portion of T-Ag shared between small and large T-Ags. Among cases, titers of T-Ag antibodies fell rapidly (∼8-fold per year) in patients whose cancer did not recur, whereas they rose rapidly in those with progressive disease. Importantly, in several patients who developed metastases, the rise in T-Ag titer preceded clinical detection of disease spread. These results suggest that antibodies recognizing T-Ag are relatively specifically associated with MCC, do not effectively protect against disease progression, and may serve as a clinically useful indicator of disease status. Cancer Res; 70(21); 8388–97. ©2010 AACR.

B-lymphoid kinase (Blk) is exclusively expressed in B cells and thymocytes. Interestingly, transgenic expression of a constitutively active form of Blk in the T-cell lineage of mice results in the development of T-lymphoid lymphomas. Here, we demonstrate nuclear factor–kappa B (NF-κB)–mediated ectopic expression of Blk in malignant T-cell lines established from patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Importantly, Blk is also expressed in situ in lesional tissue specimens from 26 of 31 patients with CTCL. Already in early disease the majority of epidermotropic T cells express Blk, whereas Blk expression is not observed in patients with benign inflammatory skin disorders. In a longitudinal study of an additional 24 patients biopsied for suspected CTCL, Blk expression significantly correlated with a subsequently confirmed diagnosis of CTCL. Blk is constitutively tyrosine phosphorylated in malignant CTCL cell lines and spontaneously active in kinase assays. Furthermore, targeting Blk activity and expression by Src kinase inhibitors and small interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibit the proliferation of the malignant T cells. In conclusion, this is the first report of Blk expression in CTCL, thereby providing new clues to the pathogenesis of the disease.

S100A4 (metastasin 1) belongs to the S100 family of Ca(2+) binding proteins. While not present in most differentiated adult tissues, S100A4 is upregulated in the micromilieu of tumors. It is primarily expressed by tumor-associated macrophages, fibroblasts, and tumor endothelial cells. Due to its strong induction in tumors S100A4 is a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. By reverse immunology, using epitope prediction programs, we identified 3 HLA-A1-restricted peptide epitopes (S100A4 A1-1, A1-2, and A1-3) which are subject to human T cell responses as detected in peripheral blood of melanoma patients by means of IFN-gamma ELISPOT and cytotoxicity assays. In addition, IFN-gamma responses to S100A4 A1-2 can not only be induced by stimulation of T cells with peptide-loaded DC but also by stimulation with S100A4 protein-loaded DC, indicating that this epitope is indeed generated by processing of the endogenously expressed protein. In addition, S100A4 A1-2 reactive T cells demonstrate lysis of HLA-A1(+) fibroblasts in comparison to HLA-A1(-) fibroblasts. In summary, this HLA-A1-restricted peptide epitope is a candidate for immunotherapeutical approaches targeting S100A4-expressing cells in the tumor stroma.

Die endoanale Sonographie wird als wenig invasives Verfahren zur Lokalisation von Verletzungen des Sphinkterapparates und in der Dia gnostik von Fisteln und Abszessen eingesetzt. Schallkopfnahe Strukturen haben in der sonographischen Betrachtung des Analkanals wenig Beachtung gefunden, da sie zumeist der klinischen Untersuchung besser zuganglich scheinen und bei der endoanalen Sonographie mit groseren Schallkopfen durch Kompression nur eingeschrankt beurteilbar sind. Ziel der vorliegenden Untersuchung war es, die diagnostische Wertigkeit der analen Endosonographie mit einem 7-mm-Schallkopf zu evaluieren. In den letzten 4 1/2 Jahren untersuchten die Autoren 47 Patienten mit dem klinischen Verdacht auf Abszess-/Fistelleiden, Fissur oder Raumforderung im analen Kanal. Diese Patienten wurden mit einem 7 mm grosen endoanalen Schallkopf und, wenn moglich, mit einem 20 mm grosen endoanalen Schallkopf untersucht. Anschliesend fand ein Vergleich zwischen klinischem, endosonographischem und intraoperativem Befund statt. Laut klinischer Untersuchung hatten 32 von 47 Patienten ein Abszess- und Fistelleiden, zehn eine Analfissur und funf einen Tumor im analen Kanal. Mittels des endoanalen Ultraschalls mit der 7-mm-Sonde bestatigte sich bei 20 Patienten der Befund, bei 23 Patienten konnte die klinische Diagnose erweitert werden, und bei zwei Patienten lies sich bei sehr aboralem Befund kein endosonographisches Korrelat finden. Zwei Patienten wiesen intraoperativ einen von Klinik und Sonographie abweichenden Befund auf. Bezogen auf die Genauigkeit der Diagnose zeigten sich fur den 7-mm- und den 20-mm-Schallkopf eine Sensitivitat von 91,1% versus 29,6% und eine Richtigkeit von 91,5% versus 37,9%. Die „soft touch“-Sonographie mit der endoanalen 7-mm-Sonde erlaubt eine eindeutigere Zuordnung schallkopfnaher pathologischer Veranderungen und vervollstandigt somit die praoperative Diagnostik.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is one of the most common cancers in Caucasian populations, accounting for 20% of all cutaneous malignancies. A unique collaboration of multi-disciplinary experts from the European Dermatology Forum (EDF), the European Association of Dermato-Oncology (EADO) and the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) was formed to make recommendations on cSCC diagnosis and management, based on a critical review of the literature, existing guidelines and the expert's experience. The diagnosis of cSCC is primarily based on clinical features. A biopsy or excision and histologic confirmation should be performed in all clinically suspicious lesions in order to facilitate the prognostic classification and correct management of cSCC. The first line treatment of cutaneous SCC is complete surgical excision with histopathological control of excision margins. The EDF-EADO-EORTC consensus group recommends a standardised minimal margin of 5mm even for low-risk tumours. For tumours, with histological thickness of >6mm or in tumours with high risk pathological features, e.g. high histological grade, subcutaneous invasion, perineural invasion, recurrent tumours and/or tumours at high risk locations an extended margin of 10mm is recommended. As lymph node involvement by cSCC increases the risk of recurrence and mortality, a lymph node ultrasound is highly recommended, particularly in tumours with high-risk characteristics. In the case of clinical suspicion or positive findings upon imaging, a histologic confirmation should be sought either by fine needle aspiration or by open lymph node biopsy. In large infiltrating tumours with signs of involvement of underlying structures, additional imaging tests, such as CT or MRI imaging may be required to accurately assess the extent of the tumour and the presence of metastatic spread. Current staging systems for cSCC are not optimal, as they have been developed for head and neck tumours and lack extensive validation or adequate prognostic discrimination in certain stages with heterogeneous outcome measures. Sentinel lymph node biopsy has been used in patients with cSCC, but there is no conclusive evidence of its prognostic or therapeutic value. In the case of lymph node involvement by cSCC, the preferred treatment is a regional lymph node dissection. Radiation therapy represents a fair alternative to surgery in the non-surgical treatment of small cSCCs in low risk areas. It generally should be discussed either as a primary treatment for inoperable cSCC or in the adjuvant setting. Stage IV cSCC can be responsive to various chemotherapeutic agents; however, there is no standard regimen. EGFR inhibitors such as cetuximab or erlotinib, should be discussed as second line treatments after mono- or polychemotherapy failure and disease progression or within the framework of clinical trials. There is no standardised follow-up schedule for patients with cSCC. A close follow-up plan is recommended based on risk assessment of locoregional recurrences, metastatic spread or development of new lesions.

Recent reports have demonstrated that the enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is upregulated in human dendritic cells (DCs) upon in vitro maturation. IDO is supposed to convey immunosuppressive effects by degrading the essential amino acid tryptophan, thereby downregulating T-cell functions. Hence, we evaluated IDO expression in DC preparations used for therapeutic DC vaccination and its in vivo effects.IDO expression was detected by real-time-PCR in a series of human clinical grade DCs (n = 28) prior to vaccination of advanced melanoma patients (n = 11). These analyses revealed an intra- and interpersonal variation in IDO mRNA levels. IDO was strongly upregulated in human DCs on RNA and on protein level upon in vitro maturation by Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) over a time course of 24 h. The enzymatic activity of induced IDO was demonstrated by measuring tryptophan degradation. Moreover, in biopsies obtained 24 h after application of the DC vaccine a prominent infiltrate of IDO-positive cells was observed by immunohistochemistry. The inflammatory infiltrate of these sites stained positive for the transcription factor Forkhead box P3 (FoxP3), suggesting an IDO-mediated induction of regulatory T-cells. All analysed melanoma patients (n = 11) receiving DC based immunotherapy exhibited rapid disease progression with a short overall survival due to advanced tumour stage.The presented observations suggest a potential clinical relevance of IDO expression in DC-based therapeutic vaccines via the attraction or induction of FoxP3(+) T-cells.

BRAF-mutant melanoma can be successfully treated by BRAF kinase inhibitors (BRAFi) and MEK kinase inhibitors (MEKi). However, the administration of BRAFi followed by MEKi did not generate promising response rate (RR). The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the time to progression (TTP) with a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway upstream inhibition strategy in BRAF mutated melanoma patients. BRAF mutation positive metastatic melanoma patients were identified within the Dermatology Cooperative Oncology Group (DeCOG) network and were treated first with a MEKi and upon progression with a selective BRAFi. A total of 23 melanoma patients (six females, 17 males, aged 47-80 years) were retrospectively analysed for TTP. The total median TTP was 8.9 months. The median TTP for MEKi was 4.8 (1.2-23.2) and subsequent for BRAFi 4.5 (1.2-15.7) months, respectively. A higher RR for MEKi (39%, nine partial responses and 0 complete responses) than previously reported was observed. Our analysis suggests that the reversed inhibition of the MAPK pathway is feasible in BRAF mutated melanoma. The median TTP (8.9 months) is close to the promising BRAF- and MEKi combination therapy (median progression-free survival (PFS) 9.4 months). The total treatment duration of the MAPK inhibition when a MEKi is administered first is similar compared to the reversed sequence, but TTP shifts in favour to the MEKi. This approach is feasible with reasonable tolerability. This clinical investigation encourages further studies in prospective clinical trials to define the optimal treatment schedule for the MAPK pathway inhibition and should be accompanied by molecular monitoring using repeated biopsies.

Purpose Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. There is a need for multicenter trials involving defined patient populations using rigorous assessment criteria. We have investigated pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) in a clearly defined patient population with advanced MF. Patients and Methods Eligible patients had stage IIB, IVA, or IVB MF, refractory or recurrent after at least two previous systemic therapies. Patients were registered to receive a maximum of six cycles of PLD 20 mg/m2 on days 1 and 15, every 28 days (one cycle). The primary end point was response rate (RR). Results Nine centers recruited 49 eligible patients. The median number of chemotherapy cycles received was five. There were no grade 3 to 4 hematologic toxicities. Grade 3 or 4 nonhematologic/nonbiochemical toxicities included cardiac symptom (2%), allergy/hypersensitivity (2%), constitutional symptom (4%), hand and foot reaction (2%), other dermatologic toxicity (6%), other GI toxicity (4%), infection (4%), pulmonary embolism (2%), and cardiac ischemia (2%). Of 49 patients, 20 (40.8%) were responders (complete clinical response [CCR] or partial response [PR] as overall response): three (6.1%) experienced CCRs, and 17 (34.7%) experienced PRs. A 50% or greater reduction of cutaneous manifestations was observed in 26 (60.5%) of 43 assessable patients. Two early deaths were reported, resulting from related cardiovascular toxicity and disease progression. The lower limit of the one-sided 90% CI for RR was 31.2%. Median time to progression and median duration of response were 7.4 and 6 months, respectively. Conclusion PLD has an acceptable safety profile in patients with advanced MF. The efficacy of PLD seems promising.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of an extended schedule escalated dose of temozolomide versus standard dose dacarbazine in a large population of patients with stage IV melanoma. Patients and methods: A total of 859 patients were randomised to receive oral temozolomide at 150 mg/m(2)/day for seven consecutive days every 2 weeks or dacarbazine, administered as an intravenous infusion at 1000 mg/m2/day on day 1 every 3 weeks. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), using an intent-to-treat principle. EudraCT number 2004-000654-23 NCI registration number NCT00005052. Results: Median OS was 9.1 months in the temozolomide arm and 9.4 months in the dacarbazine arm, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.00 (95%confidence interval [CI]: 0.86, 1.17; P = 0.99). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 2.3 months in the temozolomide arm and 2.2 months in the dacarbazine arm, with a HR of 0.92 (95%CI: 0.80, 1.06; P = 0.27). In patients with measurable disease, overall response rate was higher in the temozolomide arm than in the dacarbazine arm (14.5% versus 9.8%, respectively), but the median duration of response was longer for dacarbazine. The extended schedule, escalated dose temozolomide arm showed more toxicity than the standard dose, single agent dacarbazine arm. The most common non-haematological treatment emergent adverse events reported in both treatment arms were nausea, fatigue and vomiting and constipation. Conclusion: Extended schedule escalated dose Temozolomide (7 days on 7 days off) is feasible and has an acceptable safety profile, but does not improve OS and PFS in metastatic melanoma when compared to standard dose dacarbazine. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Purpose Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a polyomavirus-associated skin cancer that is frequently lethal and lacks established prognostic biomarkers. This study sought to identify biomarkers that improve prognostic accuracy and provide insight into MCC biology. Patients and Methods Gene expression profiles of 35 MCC tumors were clustered based on prognosis. The cluster of genes overexpressed in good-prognosis tumors was tested for biologic process enrichment. Relevant mRNA expression differences were confirmed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. An independent set of 146 nonoverlapping MCC tumors (median follow-up, 25 months among 116 living patients) was employed for biomarker validation. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed. Results Immune response gene signatures were prominent in patients with good prognoses. In particular, genes associated with cytotoxic CD8+ lymphocytes were overexpressed in tumors from patients with favorable prognoses. In the independent validation set, cases with robust intratumoral CD8+ lymphocyte infiltration had improved outcomes (100% MCC-specific survival, n = 26) compared with instances characterized by sparse infiltration (60% survival, n = 120). Only stage and intratumoral CD8 infiltration (but not age, sex, or CD8+ lymphocytes localized to the tumor-stroma interface) were significant in both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Notably, traditional histologic identification of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes was not a significant independent predictor of survival. Conclusion Intratumoral CD8+ lymphocyte infiltration can be readily assessed on paraffin-embedded tissue, is independently associated with improved MCC-specific survival, and therefore, may provide prognostic information that enhances established MCC staging protocols.

Sorafenib, originally developed as CRAF inhibitor but soon recognized as a multikinase inhibitor, is currently widely tested for the treatment of different cancers either alone or in combination therapy. However, the clinical success, particularly in immunogenic tumors such as melanoma, was less than anticipated. Because T-cell activation is tightly regulated by a multitude of kinases, we scrutinized effects of sorafenib on immune responses. To this end, comprehensive in vitro studies revealed that the presence of sorafenib concentrations comparable with observed plasma levels in patients strongly impairs the activation of T cells. Notably, even established tumor-specific immune responses are influenced by sorafenib. Indeed, ELISPOT data of peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from melanoma patients vaccinated against survivin show markedly diminished survivin-specific immune responses in the presence of sorafenib. Surprisingly, inhibition of T-cell activation was not associated with reduced extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation. In fact, on T-cell receptor stimulation phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase and phospho-mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase levels were found to be elevated in the presence of sorafenib, showing the complexity of signal transduction events following T-cell receptor stimulation. In conclusion, our data show that T-cell function is sensitive toward the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib in a mitogen-activated protein kinase-independent fashion. This observation has important implications for the use of sorafenib as therapy for immunogenic cancers. [Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(2):433–40]

Due to elaborate control mechanisms, in benign tumors the activation of oncogenes primarily induces senescence, associated with cessation of cellular proliferation; for example, melanocytic nevi expressing mutant B-Raf. These mechanisms include the RB and/or the p53 pathway. The current model of melanomagenesis postulates that progression to immortal melanoma cells requires inactivating aberrations in signaling cascades controlling senescence. Thus, melanoma cells carrying mutant B-Raf should be resistant to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway-induced senescence. Here, we demonstrate that hyperactivation of the MAPK pathway following activation of an inducible form of oncogenic C-Raf induces a senescence-like proliferation arrest in B-Raf mutant melanoma cells. This Raf-induced senescence is initially strictly dependent on MEK signaling, but seems to be independent of MAPK signaling after prolonged continuance. It is associated with reduced levels of RB phosphorylation and an increase in p21 expression, but is independent of p16(Ink4a) and p53. These data argue against the existence of fundamental changes in melanoma cells completely precluding senescence.

Mutated BRAF and NRAS are suspected to contribute to melanomagenesis by activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). To test this notion, we analyzed the presence of phosphorylated ERK1/2 in 170 melanomas with established NRAS/BRAF mutational status and well-documented clinical follow-up by immunohistochemistry. Several notable observations were obtained: (i) phospho-ERK staining was very heterogeneous within the tumor; (ii) in most cases, ERK was phosphorylated in only a minority of tumor cells; (iii) the percentage of phospho-ERK-positive cells was not correlated with the mutational status of NRAS and/or BRAF; (iv) the Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) was expressed homogeneously in virtually all melanoma samples not reflecting the inhomogeneity of phospho-ERK; and, finally, (v) neither the portion of phospho-ERK-positive tumor cells nor the RKIP staining intensity showed any correlation to the clinical course of the patients. Furthermore, the ability of BRAF mutant melanoma cells to downregulate mitogen-activated protein kinase activation was shown in melanoma cell lines cultured at high densities or under nonadherent conditions. Our findings suggest that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity is subject to regulation even in BRAF/NRAS mutant melanoma cells and that high MAPK pathway signaling may be important only in distinct subsets of tumor cells.

Purpose: A topical Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonist induces regression of cutaneous melanocytic neoplasms. We explored antitumor activity of a systemically administered TLR7 agonist, 852A, in patients with metastatic melanoma. Experimental Design: We undertook a phase II, multicenter, open-label study in patients with chemotherapy-refractory metastatic melanoma. Patients received i.v. 852A, starting at 0.6 mg/m2 and increasing to 0.9 mg/m2 based on tolerance, thrice per week for 12 weeks. Clinical response was determined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Immune effects of 852A were monitored by measuring serum type I IFN and IP-10 together with assessment of immune cell markers in peripheral blood. Results: Twenty-one patients were enrolled. Thirteen patients completed the initial 12-week treatment cycle, with two discontinuing for adverse events considered to be possibly related to study drug. Four (19%) patients had disease stabilization for >100 days. One patient had a partial remission after two treatment cycles, but progressed during the third. Dose-limiting toxicity was observed in two patients. Serum type I IFN and IP-10 increased in most patients on 852A administration. Serum type I IFN increases were greater after dosing with 852A 0.9 mg/m2 than after 0.6 mg/m2 (P = 0.009). The maximal increase in IP-10 compared with baseline correlated with the maximal increase in type I IFN (P = 0.003). In the eight patients with immune cell marker data, CD86 expression on monocytes increased significantly post-first dose (P = 0.007). Conclusion: Intravenous 852A was well tolerated and induced systemic immune activation that eventually resulted in prolonged disease stabilization in some patients with stage IV metastatic melanoma who had failed chemotherapy.

Background The Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) has been shown to block MAP kinase pathway as well as NFκB signalling. By means of immunohistochemistry, we previously demonstrated that the MAP kinase pathway is virtually inactive in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Similarly to MCC in situ high RKIP expression accompanies absence of ERK phosphorylation in the MCC cell line UISO suggesting that RKIP might be causative for MAP kinase pathway silencing. Methods Applying an siRNA approach RKIP expression was knocked down in UISO cells and a possible influence on MAP kinase pathway activity was assessed by Western blot analysis using phospho-specific antibodies. Moreover, a possible effect of RKIP knock down in UISO cells on proliferation as well as chemosensitivity to cisplatin were examined applying the MTS assay. Results Surprisingly the absence of phosphorylation of the MAP kinases ERK1 and ERK 2 even following growth factor stimulation was not affected by the RKIP knock down indicating that RKIP is not essential for blocking the MAP kinase pathway in the MCC cell line UISO. Moreover, proliferation as well as chemosensitivity towards cisplatin were not altered upon knock down of RKIP.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but highly aggressive tumor of the skin. Recently, we have shown that MCC cells in situ are characterized by a complete absence of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway signaling, which is preserved in the MCC cell line UISO. Here we present data suggesting that silencing of the MAPK pathway is essential for the survival of MCC cells. Activation of the MAPK pathway could be achieved by inducing a regulatable form of the c-Raf-1 kinase domain in UISO cells. Consequently, MAPK signaling led to morphological changes, loss of actin stress fibers, and induction of apoptosis, which could be prevented by the MAP kinase kinase-specific inhibitor U0126. Hence, despite the fact that activation of the MAPK pathway contributes to oncogenesis in many cancers, it seems to be a negative selection factor for MCC cells. Since ERK phosphorylation was also inducible by the Raf-activating pharmacological agent ZM336372, these results provide new perspectives for potential therapeutics for this highly aggressive tumor.

Purpose: As prognosis of advanced pancreatic cancer remains gloomy, novel therapeutic modalities have to be developed. Immunotherapy, which targets tumor-associated antigens of tumor cells or tumor stroma, is currently under investigation. As survivin is expressed by neoplastic and tumor endothelial cells, but rarely by normal cells, this antigen appears as an intriguing target molecule. Methods: A 72-year old patient, suffering from pancreatic cancer refractory to gemcitabine therapy, received the survivin-based peptide vaccinations consisting of 100 μg of a modified HLA-A2 restricted survivin96–104 epitope in Montanide®. Each visit the patient was assessed for adverse events, quality of life and immunological response. Immunemonitoring was performed by IFN-γ-ELISPOT analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes. Clinical outcome was evaluated by repetitive computed tomography. Results: Under vaccination with survivin peptides the patient initially underwent partial remission of liver metastasis which proceeded after 6 months into a complete remission with a duration of 8 months. Immunological monitoring revealed strong vaccine-induced immune-reactivity against survivin. Unfortunately, after the patient was weaned from vaccination in state of no evidence of disease, he developed recurrent disease. Conclusion: T-cell responses against survivin-expressing cells of the tumor itself and tumor endothelium should impact tumor growth and metastasis. The presented patient with pancreatic cancer is the first example of a successful application of a survivin-based vaccination in the clinical setting. An ongoing phase I/II trial with HLA-A1, -A2 and -B35 restricted survivin peptides for patients with advanced cancer will provide further information towards this notion.

Malignant melanoma of the skin preferentially metastasises via the lymphatic system. Novel molecular biomarkers, which are involved in malignant transformation, proliferation, angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, are currently under investigation to elucidate the risk for lymph node metastasis. To this end, the vascular endothelial growth factors VEGF-C and VEGF-D have been identified to promote lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic spread through activation of its receptor, Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3). Prompted by this assumption, we estimated the degree of lymphangiogenesis by semiquantitative immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of VEGFR-3 and the panvascular marker CD31 in primary cutaneous melanoma (n=26) and correlated these findings with the sentinel lymph node (SLN) status. The cohort was selected for matched prognostic markers in SLN-positive and SLN-negative patients. In contrast to other studies, we observed an inverse correlation between expression of these markers with lymph node metastases. Additionally, no difference between intratumoral versus peritumoral CD31- or VEGFR-3 expression on blood vessels versus lymphatic capillaries could be detected. Interestingly, VEGFR-3 upregulation was not restrained to vascular structures but also appeared on tumor cells. In summary, in our series VEGFR-3/CD31 immunohistochemical staining of primary melanoma does not serve as a valid marker to predict lymph node involvement. As lymphatic spread is a complex, multi-step process, several different biomarkers have to be combined to define new prognostic subgroups in cutaneous melanoma.

9041^ Background: In previous studies, intralesional injection with interleukin-2 (IL2) showed efficacy for the intratumoral treatment of cutaneous/subcutaneous metastases in advanced melanoma pati...

The Retinoid-X-Receptor specific retinoid bexarotene is approved for treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in the United States and Europe. CTCL is a heterogeneous group of peripheral non-Hodgkin lymphomas with different prognosis and different response to treatment and the current WHO classification contains nine different entities with Mycosis fungoides (MF) as the most common subtype. Since most data on efficacy and tolerability are available from studies with MF, this Dermatologic Cooperative Oncology Group (DeCOG) trial (ADO-CTCL-3) evaluates treatment response to bexarotene in patients with non-MF CTCL, encompassing CD30+ primary cutaneous ALCL and severe lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP), CD-30 negative pleomorphic TCL, Sezary's syndrome (SS), subcutaneous panniculitis-like TCL, and other defined variants. Additionally, patients with different rare variants of MF, including folliculotropic (fMF), granulomatous, erythrodermic, and CD30+ transformed MF were included. 200 patients with CTCL stage IB or higher and at least one prior treatment failure were registered in this trial with bexarotene at an initial daily dose of 150mg/m² orally und prophylactic fenofibrate medication. Bexatrotene was increased to a target dosage of 300 mg/m² in patients with tolarable serum lipids under these conditions. Patients were evaluated according to a standardized evaluation tool (tumor burden index; TBI) up to 24 weeks of of treatment or until progression occured. In responding patients, treatment could be continued until progression. After a central pathology board review process 2 patients needed to be excluded from evaluation because of misdiagnoses. Additional 11 patients could not be evaluated for response due to early withdrawal. Among the remaining patients there were 18 patients with SS, 8 cutaneous CD30+ ALCL, 10 Lyp, 9 other rare entities. In addition MF cases with folliculotropic subtype (18), CD30+ transformation (11), CD30- transformation (4), and a variety of other MF subtypes could be compared to the response in classical MF. Response to bexarotene could be confirmed in classical MF with an objective response (OR) rate of 37 percent (5% CR; 32% PR). Response rates for the other entities were as follows: CD30+ ALCL 50% OR, LyP 60% OR, SS 33% OR, other forms of CTCL together 33% OR. In MF with CD30+ transformation 46% responded, in contrast to only 11% of cases with folliculotropic MF. Tolerability was as expected with most grade III/IV toxicities limited to hyperlipidemia. Side effect management anf the incidence of serious adverse events could be substantially improved using standard algorithms for lipid control. In conclusion, this is one of the largest CTCL cohorts with exact pathological review worldwide evaluated for treatment response with bexarotene. Bexarotene appears to be a safe and effective treatment option also in non-classical MF and CTCL variants. Folliculotropic MF proved to be a difficult-to-treat entity and CD30 expression seems to be a favourable prognostic marker for treatment response. Disclosures: Weichenthal: Cephalon GmbH: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; TEVA GmbH: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Goldinger:Cephalon: Travel costs Other; TEVA: Travel costs, Travel costs Other. Wehkamp:TEVA GmbH: Travel costs Other. Beyer:TEVA GmbH: Honoraria, Research Funding; Cephalon GmbH: Honoraria, Research Funding. Stein:Cephalon: Travel costs Other; TEVA: Travel costs, Travel costs Other. Tsianakas:Cephalon: Travel costs Other; TEVA: Travel costs, Travel costs Other. Koch:Cephalon: Travel costs Other. Yazdi:Cephalon: Travel costs Other; TEVA: Travel costs, Travel costs Other. Wobser:Cephalon: Travel costs Other; TEVA: Travel costs, Travel costs Other. Frambach:Cephalon: Travel costs Other; TEVA: Travel costs, Travel costs Other. Dippel:Cephalon GmbH: Honoraria, Travel costs Other; TEVA GmbH: Honoraria, Travel costs, Travel costs Other. Geißler:Cephalon GmbH: Travel costs Other; TEVA GmbH: Travel costs, Travel costs Other. Loquai:TEVA GmbH: Travel costs Other. Kurschat:Cephalon: Travel costs Other; TEVA GmbH: Honoraria, Travel costs, Travel costs Other. Pföhler:Cephalon: Travel costs Other. Hartmann:Cephalon GmbH: Travel costs Other; TEVA GmbH: Travel costs, Travel costs Other. Coors:Cephalon GmbH: Travel costs Other; TEVA GmbH: Honoraria, Travel costs, Travel costs Other. Hallermann:TEVA GmbH: Travel costs Other. Mohr:TEVA: Honoraria, Travel costs Other. Hillen:TEVA: Travel costs Other. Belloni:Cephalon GmbH: Travel costs Other. Mitteldorf:Cephalon: Travel costs Other. Assaf:TEVA: Honoraria, Research Funding, Travel costs Other. Klemke:TEVA GmbH: Consultancy, Honoraria; Cephalon GmbH: Honoraria. Becker:Cephalon GmbH: Honoraria, Research Funding; TEVA GmbH: Honoraria. Dummer:Cephalon GmbH: Honoraria, Research Funding; TEVA GmbH: Honoraria. Nicolay:TEVA: Travel costs Other.

We describe an autosomal-dominant syndrome characterized by multiple non-pigmented, exophytic melanocytic nevi and an increased susceptibility for melanoma, caused by germline mutations in the histone deubiquitinase BAP1. To identify the causative alterations, we performed comprehensive genomic analyses in two unrelated families with numerous dermal nevi composed largely of large, epithelioid melanocytes with abundant amphophilic cytoplasm and large, pleomorphic, vesicular nuclei with prominent nucleoli. Both families each had one proband with uveal melanoma, and three probands in one family had cutaneous melanoma. Array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) revealed losses of parts of or the entire chromosome 3 in 11 of 22 neoplasms studied. Genotypic analyses revealed that the deletions invariably affected the chromosome from the unaffected parent. Genome partitioning of the minimally deleted region on chromosome 3p21 followed by massively parallel sequencing revealed two different inactivating germline mutations of the BAP1 tumor suppressor gene that in both families segregated with the phenotype. In almost all tumors the remaining wild type BAP1 allele was eliminated by deletion, separate inactivating mutations, or loss of heterozygosity. 35 of 40 nevi (88%) showed mutations in BRAF, while the uveal melanomas had mutations in GNAQ. Our data identify BAP1 as a highly penetrant susceptibility gene for melanocytic neoplasia. Somatic BAP1 mutations have recently been reported in uveal melanoma and linked to the metastatic phenotype. Our observation of frequent bi-allelic inactivation of BAP1 in nevi indicates that the role of BAP1 in melanocytic neoplasia is more complex, and may differ depending on other factors such as the type of melanocyte (uveal or cutaneous) and the co-existing oncogenic mutation. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-125. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-LB-125

Abstract 2823 Background: Cutaneous lymphomas consist of a heterogeneous group of diseases that are characterized by a clonal accumulation of lymphocytes in the skin. The estimated incidence is 1–2/100.000 per year. The more advanced stages have a poor prognosis and treatments are usually palliative, such as combination of PUVA with retinoids or recombinant interferon alpha. CHOP or COPBLAM are widely used in analogy to other peripheral T-cell lymphomas, but have severe, sometimes lethal infectious complications and short response duration. Some studies indicated response rates after CHOP chemotherapy regimen are between 40% and 70% in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). However, these studies include patients in various disease stages, that might not necessarily need aggressive treatment and without precise information concerning the CTCL subtype. Therefore, there is an urgent need for multicenter trials designed to test a clearly defined patient population. Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD, Caelyx™) is an antineoplastic antibiotic with pharmacologic actions similar to those of daunorubicin. PLD provides a longer circulation time and a higher drug concentration in tumors than in normal tissue that could lead to reduced side effects in particular life-threatening cardiotoxicity and neutropenia with infectious complications. Material and methods: Eligible patients had histologically confirmed Mycosis Fungoides stage IIb, IVa, or IVb, WHO performance status (PS) 0–2, no systemic treatment with steroids and refractory or recurrent disease after at least 2 or more previous therapies. Caelyx 20 mg/m2 was administered on days 1 and 15 in a 28-day cycle for a maximum of 6 cycles. The primary endpoint was response rate (RR), defined as patients achieved either complete clinical response (CCR) or partial response (PR). Using the Fleming design with α= 0.1 and β= 0.05 and aiming at a RR = 45% and powered to rule out a RR < 25%, 48 patients who are eligible and started treatment are required. To declare success, a 1-sided 90% confidence interval (CI) for RR should exclude 25% (the rate used in the null hypothesis). Results: Between November 22, 2003 and July 3, 2009, 9 centers registered 49 patients. All of them were eligible and started treatment. The majority of patients were male (67%), had PS 0, 1 (43%, 53%) and were between 56–65 and 66–75 year old (33% and 31%). The median (range) number of chemotherapy cycles received was 5(1-6) and the majority of patients had relative dose intensity of 90–110% and 70–90% (53% and 35%). Eighty eight percents of patients received prophylactic antiemetics; 84% had PS 0–1 during treatment. There was no Grade 3–4 hematological toxicity; only grade 2 neutropenia (4%), leukopenia (4%) and anemia (4%) were observed during treatment. Grade 3/4 non-hematologic/non biochemical toxicities were cardiac (2%), allergy (2%), constitutional symptom (4%), hand foot reaction (2%), other dermatologic toxicity (6%), other gastro intestinal toxicity (4%) and other infection (4%). One patient (2%) had grade 4 cardiac ischemia. Of 49 patients who were eligible and started treatment, 20 (40.8%) were responders: 3 (6.1%) CCR and 17 (34.7%). The 1-sided 90% CI for the RR is: (31.2%, 100%). Conclusion: The primary RR endpoint of the study was reached (ie, 1-sided 90% CI excludes 25%). We conclude that Caelyx™ should be considered for further investigation. Caelyx™ has an acceptable safety profile with only a few toxicities and no sepsis observed in this patient population of advanced age. Its efficacy appears promising. Disclosures: Dummer: Astra Zeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Cephalon: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Merck Sharp & Dhome: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Transgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Genta: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bayer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Schering Plough: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Becker:SheringPlough International: Consultancy. Weichenthal:Schering-Plough : Honoraria, Research Funding.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a highly metastatic skin tumor. To assess the relevance of the Ras/Raf/MEK/MAP kinase pathway, we analyzed for activating B-Raf mutations and we elucidated the presence of the Raf Kinase Inhibitor Protein (RKIP) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) as well as the phosphorylation status of ERK. All MCC samples were negative for the B-Raf(V600E) mutation. Remarkably, RKIP, which was shown to interfere with the activation of MEK by Raf, was highly expressed in primary as well as in metastatic MCC. Immunohistochemical analysis of the phosphorylation status of ERK revealed in 42 out of 44 samples a complete lack of activated ERK in the tumor cells although ERK is expressed; in the two positive cases phosphorylated ERK was restricted to a minor fraction of the tumor cells. Western blot analysis of three MCC-derived cell lines revealed in one case the pattern present in situ (i.e. high RKIP expression and complete absence of phosphorylated ERK). In summary, our data demonstrate the inactivity of the classical MAP kinase signal transduction pathway in MCC, which seems to be because of lack of activation as well as active deactivation. These findings should be accounted for in future therapeutic approaches for this tumor.