Nature Sub: Combination Therapy Improves Survival Rate of Uveal Melanoma

Uveal melanoma is a rare malignant melanoma that originates in the pigment cells of the eye, not the skin

Researchers from the University of Gothenburg and Saargrenska University Hospital in Sweden recently published the results of a clinical trial in the journal Nature Communications

This is a phase II clinical trial in which 29 patients with metastatic uveal melanoma received a combination of two inhibitor drugs, targeting HDAC (histone deacetylase) and PD-1 (on T cells).

Lars Ny, a senior lecturer at the University of Gothenburg, explained: “We hope that HDAC inhibitors can reprogram hidden cancer cells so that they can be found by immune cells, so that immunotherapy with PD-1 inhibitors becomes effective

Explaining resistance from a genetic perspective

Professor Jonas Nilsson from the University of Gothenburg said: “In general, the clinical trial is in line with our expectations, although it does not seem to be a curative treatment

The research team is currently continuing to study why the deletion of the BAP1 gene can lead to resistance to immunotherapy, and what changes in blood composition of uveal melanoma patients can predict improved survival after immunotherapy

They found that one of the tumors originated in the iris of the eye, which means it was damaged by ultraviolet rays

From lymphoma to uveal melanoma

Earlier, Jonas Nilsson et al.

Lars Ny recalled: “So Jonas Nilsson suggested combining HDAC inhibitors with PD-1 inhibitors to see if this is more effective for patients with uveal melanoma

This clinical trial in collaboration with Merck and Syndax took two and a half years to start

Lars Ny said: "I am proud of our excellent collaboration with the Patient Association and the Swedish Melanoma Research Group

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Ny, L.