Long-Term Survival in Patients With Advanced Melanoma

Olivier J. van Not*, Alfons J.M. van den Eertwegh, Hilde Jalving, Manja Bloem, John B. Haanen, Rozemarijn S. van Rijn, Maureen J.B. Aarts, Franchette W.P.J. van den Berkmortel, Christian U. Blank, Marye J. Boers-Sonderen, Jan Willem de Groot J W B, Geke A.P. Hospers, Ellen Kapiteijn, Brenda Leeneman, Piersma D, Marion Stevense-den Boer, Astrid A.M. van der Veldt, Gerard Vreugdenhil G, Michel W.J.M. Wouters, Willeke A.M. BlokxKarijn P.M. Suijkerbuijk

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

IMPORTANCE: 

Long-term survival data from clinical trials show that survival curves of patients with advanced melanoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) gradually reach a plateau, suggesting that patients have a chance of achieving long-term survival. 

OBJECTIVE: 

To investigate long-term survival in patients with advanced melanoma treated with ICIs outside clinical trials. 

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: 

Cohort study using prospectively collected data from the nationwide Dutch Melanoma Treatment Registry, including patients in the Netherlands with advanced melanoma treated with first-line ICIs from 2012 to 2019. Data were analyzed from January to September 2023. EXPOSURES: Patients were treated with first-line ipilimumab-nivolumab, antibodies that target programmed cell death (anti-PD-1), or ipilimumab. 

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: 

Progression-free survival (PFS) and melanoma-specific survival were analyzed, and a Cox proportional hazards model was used to investigate factors associated with PFS after reaching partial response (PR) or complete response (CR).

RESULTS:

 A total of 2490 patients treated with first-line ICIs were included (median [IQR] age, 65.0 [55.3-73.0] years; 1561 male patients [62.7%]). Most patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status of 1 or lower (2202 patients [88.5%]) and normal lactate dehydrogenase levels (1715 patients [68.9%]). PFS for all patients was 23.4% (95% CI, 21.7%-25.2%) after 3 years and 19.7% (95% CI, 18.0%-21.4%) after 5 years. Overall survival for all patients was 44.0% (95% CI, 42.1%-46.1%) after 3 years and 35.9% (95% CI, 33.9%-38.0%) after 5 years. Patients with metastases in 3 or more organ sites had a significantly higher hazard of progression after reaching PR or CR (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.11-1.69). 

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: 

This cohort study of patients with advanced melanoma treated with ICIs in clinical practice showed that their survival reached a plateau, comparable with patients participating in clinical trials. These findings can be used in daily clinical practice to guide long-term surveillance strategies and inform both physicians and patients regarding long-term treatment outcomes.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2426641
JournalJAMA network open
Volume7
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Aug 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 van Not OJ et al.

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