Immune biomarkers are more accurate in prediction of survival in ulcerated than in non-ulcerated primary melanomas

Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2015 Sep;64(9):1193-203. doi: 10.1007/s00262-015-1726-0. Epub 2015 Jun 16.

Abstract

Introduction: Ulcerated melanomas may have a unique biology and microenvironment. We test whether markers of immune infiltration correlate with clinical outcome in ulcerated compared to non-ulcerated primary melanoma tumors.

Methods: Sixty-two stage II-III cutaneous melanomas, 32 ulcerated and 30 non-ulcerated, were analyzed for tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed for CD2, a marker previously shown to correlate with overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in this patient population. IHC using antibody, VE1, to BRAF V600E was also performed on a subset of 41 tumors to assess the relationship of BRAF mutation to immune markers.

Results: We found, using Cox regression models, that the presence of TILs was associated with improved OS (p = 0.034) and RFS (p = 0.002) in ulcerated melanoma tumors, but not in non-ulcerated melanoma (p = 0.632, 0.416). CD2 expression also was correlated with improved OS (p = 0.021) and RFS (p = 0.001) in ulcerated melanoma, but no relationship was seen in non-ulcerated melanoma (p = 0.427, 0.682). In this small population, BRAF status did not correlate with TILs or CD2+ count.

Conclusion: Our data show that immune markers including TILs and CD2 count correlate more closely with survival in ulcerated melanomas than that in non-ulcerated melanomas. We propose that immune biomarkers may be particularly relevant to ulcerated, as compared to non-ulcerated, melanomas and that this merits study in larger populations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology*
  • Melanoma / immunology*
  • Melanoma / mortality
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Melanoma, Cutaneous Malignant
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Skin Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / mortality
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor