Clinical aspects of immunotherapy and targeted therapy of advanced melanoma

Author(s):
Geukes Foppen, M.H.
Published
2018
Publication type
Doctoral Thesis

Abstract

This thesis focused on different aspects of melanoma

treatment with immunotherapy and targeted therapy. In chapter 2 we search for

biomarkers that could be associated with overall survival in patients treated

with ipilimumab. In chapter 3 we describe diarrea, a commonly seen side effect of immunotherapy. Here we show that there is no significant correlation between grade of diarrhea and severity of colitis as seen during endoscopy. Chapters 4 and 5 describe patients with brain metastases and/or leptomeningeal metastases. In chapter 4 we show the difference in overall survival in patients treated with vemurafenib, dabrafenib or the combination of dabrafenib + trametinib. Chapter 5 focusses on the treatment of leptomeningeal metastases. Here a significant difference in overall survival was noted between treated and untreated patients. Furthermore LDH was a predictive biomarker for overall survival. In chapter 6 we show that treating patients with vemurafenib beyond progression of disease has a significant impact on overall survival. Lastly in chapter 7 we review the past, present and future of treating patients with different kinds of cancer with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.

MelanomaImmunotherapyTargeted therapyBrain metastasesLepto meningeal metastasesColitisBiomarkers
Defense date
2018-09-27
Language
English
Supervisor(s)
Haanen, J.B.A.G.; Blank, C.U.
Committee member(s)
Geluk, A.; Schumacher, T.N.M.; Gerritsen, W.R.; Gruijl, T.D. de; Brandsma, D.; Thienen, J.V. van
Qualification
Ph.D.
Degree granting institution
Faculty of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden University, Leiden
hdl
1887/66108
ISBN(s)
9789493014534