Characterisation of Myeloid Cells in Patients with Metastatic Melanoma Pre and Post Treatment with PD-1 Blockade

Summary

Immunotherapy is the mainstay of treatment for patients with metastatic melanoma. Immunotherapy acts on patients' immune systems to stimulate them to recognise and fight their cancer. Some patients derive huge benefit from immunotherapy, which can shrink or eradicate cancer, improving quality of life and cancer survival for patients. However, 40 - 60% of patients' cancer will not respond to immunotherapy and all patients are at risk of significant side effects. Other treatment options for these patients can be limited and life expectancy poor. We do not understand why some patients benefit from treatment and some do not, and we have no way of predicting response for patients.

Our study aims to further examine immune cells of patients with metastatic melanoma who are having treatment with immunotherapy. We will examine specific immune cells called myeloid cells using a technique called flow cytometry. We will compare changes in these immune cells before and after immunotherapy treatment. We will collect anonymised patient information so that after 6 months we will be able to compare results in patients whose cancer has shrunk because of treatment, and those whose cancer has continued to grow despite treatment. In this way, we may be able to identify possible differences which, in the future, could enable us to predict in advance whether a patient is likely to benefit from immunotherapy. By bettering our understanding of the effects of immunotherapy on patients' immune systems, we could be contributing towards the development of improved treatments for patients with metastatic melanoma.