Analysis of the Predictive Potential of Histopathological Markers in the Response to Immunotherapy in Patients with Melanoma

• Grant number: 24/03967-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2024
• End date: April 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Lidia Maria Rebolho Batista Arantes
• Grantee: Angelina Crepaldi Camargo Lima
• Host Institution: Hospital do Câncer de Barretos. Fundação Pio XII (FP). Barretos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/07111-9 - Immune-checkpoint inhibitors: immunophenotyping and clinical outcome to predict response at Barretos Cancer Hospital, AP.JP

Abstract

Background: Several studies aim to improve the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma, emphasizing immunotherapy due to its significant contribution to improving the prognosis in these patients. However, half of patients with metastatic melanoma do not obtain durable survival benefits, motivating the search for markers that identify non-responsive patients. Although histopathological evaluation is indispensable in diagnosis, its predictive value in response to immunotherapy is still uncertain, justifying the need for comprehensive studies for such characterization. Aims: This study will be developed with the aim of correlating the histopathological findings of patients with melanoma with the response to immunotherapy. Materials and Methods: This is an observational cross-sectional study with a cohort of 200 patients diagnosed with advanced melanoma between January 2011 and December 2024 who underwent immunotherapy (anti-PD1/PD-L1 or anti-CTLA-4) at Barretos Cancer Hospital. Histopathological information will be collected from standardized medical records. Histopathological findings will be correlated with outcomes of response to immunotherapy, overall survival, post-immunotherapy survival, and progression-free survival in these patients.