May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. In recognition of this important observance, Dr. Kevin Kim, principal investigator and medical oncologist at Sutter’s CPMC, and Dr. Mohammed Kashani-Sabet, principal investigator and medical director of Sutter CPMC’s Cancer Center, share how their research is helping pave the way for more tailored care for melanoma patients.
Dr. Mohammed Kashani-Sabet
Q to Dr. Kashani: What sparked your interest in studying niraparib as a new treatment for advanced melanoma?
A: When we examined the tumors of melanoma patients at Sutter, we found many changes in genes that helped fix damaged DNA. These changes may make cancer more likely to respond to a type of drug called a PARP inhibitor, like niraparib. We also saw in previous lab studies that these drugs could slow tumor growth, giving us strong reasons to test this in a clinical trial.
Dr. Kevin Kim
Q to Dr. Kim: Your team recently shared promising early results from that clinical trial. What does this mean for patients?
A: In the trial, two out of 14 patients whose cancer progressed despite standard treatments, had tumors that shrank after study drug treatment. When we excluded patients with eye-related melanoma, called uveal melanoma; two of the 10 patients had significant tumor shrinkage, and five additional patients’ cancers stabilized for at least several months up to nearly two years. While the patient group was small, the trial results indicated this type of treatment protocol could help a specific population of patients with gene changes.
See news coverage in Medical Xpress here.
Q to Dr. Kashani: Why did this study focus on a smaller group of patients with certain genetic changes?
A: Our earlier research revealed tumors with those changes may respond better to this class of drugs. Our team decided to focus on those individuals with melanoma who have that specific type of mutation.
Q to Dr. Kashani: The study also tracked cancer DNA in the blood. How does this determine the treatment’s effectiveness?
A: We hypothesized that if a gene mutation is present in the tumor, we could also find it in the blood. If the mutation disappears from the blood during treatment, that may indicate the cancer is shrinking. Tracking the mutations in blood may uncover a new way to assess the cancer’s response to treatment without the need for more scans or biopsies.
Q to Dr. Kim: What do these early results mean for patients diagnosed with advanced melanoma?
A: Our findings suggest there may be more treatment options available, even after standard treatments aren’t effective in slowing or stopping cancer growth. While niraparib isn’t yet approved for melanoma by the U.S. FDA, this study gives our team hope that tailoring medicine to a tumor’s genetics could lead to better, safer outcomes for patients.
Q to Dr. Kim: Your team is testing a new treatment combination. What is exciting about this?
A: Our team has launched a phase II clinical trial studying how a PARP inhibitor works when combined with immunotherapy in patients with advanced melanoma. The combination may offer promising clinical benefits across the board. Currently, this trial is the only one in the U.S. testing this specific combination for melanoma patients with genetic mutations. If successful, the study could pave the way for a new treatment strategy for patients with advanced melanoma and certain gene mutations.
Q to Dr. Kim: What should other physicians at Sutter take away from your study?
A: As our understanding of melanoma biology continues to evolve, we are identifying opportunities to develop more targeted treatments. Our research highlights that melanoma is not the same for each patient. Dr. Kashani and I encourage patients and physicians to consider clinical trial enrollment.
Clinical trials should be a key component of care, providing access to emerging treatment options. The research also directly contributes to advancing knowledge in the melanoma space, which can lead to more personalized, safer and more effective therapies for this challenging disease.
Q to Dr. Kashani: What gives your team hope for the future of melanoma treatment?
A: Finding new genetic clues is critical to helping identify better treatments for patients, especially for those whose diseases have continued to progress on standard therapies.
Learn more about research and enrolling in clinical trials at Sutter Health.
