Moffitt Study Shows Immune Structures in Melanoma Could Help Predict Patient Survival
TAMPA, Fla. — A new study has found that certain immune structures may be linked to better survival in patients with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. The study, led by researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center in collaboration with investigators at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, was published in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer.
This is the first time researchers have studied these structures in both early and later-stage melanoma, giving new details about how they might affect patient health.
The study looked at 278 samples from melanoma patients. These samples included early stage tumors on the skin and tumors that had spread to other parts of the body. Researchers focused on two key structures: lymphoid aggregates and tertiary lymphoid structures.
Key Findings:
- Lymphoid Aggregates and Tertiary Lymphoid Structures: About 72% of the melanoma samples had lymphoid aggregates, which are clusters of immune cells found near the tumor. These clusters were more common in early stage melanoma. Tertiary lymphoid structures are more developed immune areas and were mostly found in tumors that had spread.
- Better Survival: Patients whose tumors had lymphoid aggregates had a better chance of surviving and were less likely to have cancer spread to nearby lymph nodes. The study found that having lymphoid aggregates was linked to a 48% lower chance of dying from melanoma.
- Immune System Activity: The study also showed that these structures contained important immune cells, like T cells and B cells, which help the body fight cancer.
Researchers also noticed melanoma tumors with more pigmentation or related genes had fewer helpful immune structures. This suggests that certain tumor features might stop the immune system from creating these structures.
“We may be able to use this information to predict which patients have a better chance of surviving melanoma, based on whether these immune structures are present,” said Lilit Karapetyan, M.D., lead author of the study and assistant member in the Cutaneous Oncology Department at Moffitt. “This could help physicians make better treatment choices for their patients. The hope is to find ways to help more patients grow these immune structures to fight the cancer more effectively.”
Researchers will continue studying how these immune structures form in melanoma and how they can be used to improve treatment. They also want to learn more about why some melanoma tumors stop these immune structures from forming.
This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health (P30-CA076292, P50-CA168536, P01-CA234212, P50-CA254865), the CJG Fund, the Chris Sullivan Fund, the V Foundation, the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Medical Research Foundation, the Donald A. Adam Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center of Excellence, the ASCO Conquer Cancer Foundation and the Melanoma Research Foundation.
About Moffitt Cancer Center
Moffitt is dedicated to one lifesaving mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. The Tampa-based facility is one of only 57 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s scientific excellence, multidisciplinary research, and robust training and education. Moffitt’s expert nursing staff is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet® status, its highest distinction. For more information, call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-888-663-3488), visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the momentum on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
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