Additive Intralesional Interleukin-2 Improves Progression-Free Survival in a Distinct Subgroup of Melanoma Patients with Prior Progression under Immunotherapy

A considerable amount of melanoma patients show primary resistance to PD-1 and CTLA-4 inhibitors. We have previously reported a beneficial role of intralesional Interleukin-2 (IL-2) in 9 melanoma patients developing new locoregional metastases under immunotherapy. We have now expanded this retrospec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cancers 2022-01, Vol.14 (3), p.540
Main Authors: Rafei-Shamsabadi, David, Lehr, Saskia, Behrens, Max, Meiss, Frank
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibodies
Apoptosis
Biopsy
CD8 antigen
CTLA-4 protein
Cytokines
Histology
Immunotherapy
Inflammation
Interleukin 2
Leukocytes (eosinophilic)
Lymphocytes
Melanoma
Metastases
Metastasis
Patients
PD-1 protein
Response rates
Statistical analysis
Ultrasonic imaging
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Summary:A considerable amount of melanoma patients show primary resistance to PD-1 and CTLA-4 inhibitors. We have previously reported a beneficial role of intralesional Interleukin-2 (IL-2) in 9 melanoma patients developing new locoregional metastases under immunotherapy. We have now expanded this retrospective cohort to 27 patients. Patients were evaluated for their tumor characteristics, treatment response and progression-free and overall survival (PFS/OS). In 16 patients, tumor biopsies before and under IL-2 treatment were evaluated for immune markers. The median follow-up time was 16 (1-59) months from start of IL-2 treatment. Treatment response of locoregional metastases was seen in 74% of all patients and response of distant organ metastases in 37% of stage IV patients, respectively. A prolonged PFS and OS was significantly associated with absence of active distant metastases ( = 0.008), response of locoregional metastases ( = 0.002), increase of absolute eosinophil count (AEC) ( < 0.001) and an influx of CD8 tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) ( = 0.003). Additional intralesional treatment with IL-2 in patients with locoregional progression under immunotherapy is a well-tolerated, easily feasible therapeutic option especially in patients lacking active distant metastases. A careful patient selection can lead to an improved PFS and OS.
ISSN:2072-6694
2072-6694
DOI:10.3390/cancers14030540