Metabolite Markers Predict Immunotherapy Response in Metastatic Melanoma
Researchers have pinpointed specific circulating metabolites, both individually and in sets, that correlate with how patients with metastatic melanoma respond to frontline treatments involving ipilimumab, nivolumab, or a combination of both. This revelation offers a potential avenue for predicting treatment efficacy and tailoring therapies.
Key Metabolites Linked to Survival
- Overall Survival: Across the entire study population, levels of lactate, tryptophan, and valine showed associations with overall survival (OS).
- Ipilimumab response: In patients treated with ipilimumab, OS was linked to levels of alanine, asparagine, glutathione, histidine, isoleucine, and phenylalanine.
- Nivolumab Response: For those receiving nivolumab, predictive metabolites included glucose, glutamine, histidine, and proline.
- Combination Therapy: Scientists identified three metabolites associated with OS in patients treated with both immunotherapies.
Treatment-Specific Metabolite Associations
- Tryptophan: Levels of tryptophan were associated with response to any of the treatment regimens.
- Histidine: Histidine levels correlated with response in patients treated with ipilimumab.
- Lactate: Lactate levels were associated with response in patients receiving the combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab.
Did you know?
Metabolomics, the study of small molecules within cells, tissues, and biological fluids, offers a snapshot of an individual’s physiological state and can reveal subtle changes in response to disease or treatment.
Expert Insights
According to Alfredo Budillon, a researcher and director at the Naples IRCCS Center, higher initial levels of histidine were more frequently observed in patients with higher overall survival across all immunotherapy regimens.
In all immunotherapy regimes the highest high histidine levels at the beginning were more frequent among patients with higher SG.
Alfredo Budillon, Naples IRCCS Center
Budillon emphasized the ongoing need to identify patients who will benefit from these immunotherapies, given the demonstrated efficacy of anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 agents in melanoma, yet the existence of primary or acquired resistance in some patient populations.
Despite the demonstrated efficacy of anti-P-1 and anti-ctla4 agents in melanoma, there are still populations of patients who have primary or acquired resistance to these agents, which imposes the need to identify those who will benefit from these immunotherapies.
Alfredo Budillon,Naples IRCCS Center
Budillon suggests that spectroscopic analysis,like the one used in this study,could be instrumental in achieving this goal.
The spectroscopic analysis, such as the one used in this study, can contribute to this purpose.
Alfredo Budillon, Naples IRCCS center
Pro Tip
Consider discussing metabolomic profiling with your oncologist if you are exploring immunotherapy options for metastatic melanoma. This approach may help personalize your treatment plan.
