2021
Molecular correlates of response to nivolumab at baseline and on treatment in patients with RCC
Ross-Macdonald P, Walsh AM, Chasalow SD, Ammar R, Papillon-Cavanagh S, Szabo PM, Choueiri TK, Sznol M, Wind-Rotolo M. Molecular correlates of response to nivolumab at baseline and on treatment in patients with RCC. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2021, 9: e001506. PMID: 33658305, PMCID: PMC7931766, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001506.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsB7-H1 AntigenBiomarkers, TumorCarcinoma, Renal CellCD4 AntigensCD8 AntigensCytokinesDrug Resistance, NeoplasmHumansImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsKidney NeoplasmsLymphocytes, Tumor-InfiltratingMutationNivolumabProgrammed Cell Death 1 ReceptorReceptors, Antigen, T-CellTime FactorsT-LymphocytesTreatment OutcomeConceptsClear cell renal cell carcinomaMetastatic clear cell renal cell carcinomaT cell infiltrationNivolumab responseExact testDeath ligand 1 (PD-L1) statusFirst-line treatment decisionsT-cell receptor clonalitySerum cytokine assaysImmune checkpoint inhibitorsNon-responding patientsDeath-1 receptorCell renal cell carcinomaSubset of patientsRenal cell carcinomaFisher's exact testWnt/β-cateninLogistic regression modelsRank sum testCD8 statusCheckpoint inhibitorsIndex lesionPatient selectionTCR clonalityCell carcinoma
2020
Bempegaldesleukin plus nivolumab in untreated, unresectable or metastatic melanoma: Phase III PIVOT IO 001 study design
Khushalani NI, Diab A, Ascierto PA, Larkin J, Sandhu S, Sznol M, Koon HB, Jarkowski A, Zhou M, Statkevich P, Geese WJ, Long GV. Bempegaldesleukin plus nivolumab in untreated, unresectable or metastatic melanoma: Phase III PIVOT IO 001 study design. Future Oncology 2020, 16: 2165-2175. PMID: 32723187, DOI: 10.2217/fon-2020-0351.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMetastatic melanomaKey secondary end pointEnd pointSafety/tolerabilityObjective response ratePD-1 inhibitorsPrimary end pointSecondary end pointsFirst-line therapyProgression-free survivalNatural killer cellsOverall survivalSurvival benefitAdvanced melanomaKiller cellsClinical trialsEffector TClinical activityNivolumabBempegaldesleukinResponse rateMelanomaPathway agonistStudy designPhase IIIDefining tumor resistance to PD-1 pathway blockade: recommendations from the first meeting of the SITC Immunotherapy Resistance Taskforce
Kluger HM, Tawbi HA, Ascierto ML, Bowden M, Callahan MK, Cha E, Chen HX, Drake CG, Feltquate DM, Ferris RL, Gulley JL, Gupta S, Humphrey RW, LaVallee TM, Le DT, Hubbard-Lucey VM, Papadimitrakopoulou VA, Postow MA, Rubin EH, Sharon E, Taube JM, Topalian SL, Zappasodi R, Sznol M, Sullivan RJ. Defining tumor resistance to PD-1 pathway blockade: recommendations from the first meeting of the SITC Immunotherapy Resistance Taskforce. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2020, 8: e000398. PMID: 32238470, PMCID: PMC7174063, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2019-000398.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsBiomarkers, TumorFemaleHumansImmunotherapyMaleNeoplasmsProgrammed Cell Death 1 ReceptorConceptsCancer immunotherapyClinical definitionNew agentsPD-1/PD-L1 blockadePD-1 pathway blockadeConsensus clinical definitionPD-L1 blockadeDeath receptor-1Immunotherapy of cancerStandard of careClinical trial designTreatment discontinuationMechanisms of resistancePathway blockadeClinical trialsConfirmatory scanPrimary resistancePatient benefitSecondary resistanceTrial designTreatment approachesUnmet needReceptor 1Tumor resistancePattern of response
2018
Combination Strategies PD-1/PD-L1 Antagonists
Sznol M. Combination Strategies PD-1/PD-L1 Antagonists. The Cancer Journal 2018, 24: 54-57. PMID: 29360729, DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0000000000000304.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPD-1/PD-L1 antagonistsPD-L1 antagonistsClinical antitumor activityEarly clinical developmentClinical trial designOptimal combination partnersSuboptimal responsePromising regimensCombination partnersMechanisms of resistanceCombination trialsClinical progressIndividual patientsOptimal doseBiomarker strategiesTrial designClinical developmentOverall outcomeAntagonistPatientsPrior exposureAntitumor activityRegimensAgentsInnate
2017
PD-L1 Studies Across Tumor Types, Its Differential Expression and Predictive Value in Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Kluger HM, Zito CR, Turcu G, Baine M, Zhang H, Adeniran A, Sznol M, Rimm DL, Kluger Y, Chen L, Cohen JV, Jilaveanu LB. PD-L1 Studies Across Tumor Types, Its Differential Expression and Predictive Value in Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Clinical Cancer Research 2017, 23: 4270-4279. PMID: 28223273, PMCID: PMC5540774, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-3146.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-small cell lung cancerPD-L1 expressionRenal cell carcinomaPD-1 inhibitorsCell carcinomaImmune-infiltrating cellsMelanoma patientsPD-L1Tumor cellsTumor typesTumor-associated inflammatory cellsCTLA-4 inhibitorsCell lung cancerRenal cell carcinoma cellsHigh response rateClin Cancer ResCell linesMelanoma tumor cellsPD-1Multivariable analysisNSCLC specimensInflammatory cellsLung cancerTissue microarrayResponse rate
2016
Atezolizumab, an Anti–Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Antibody, in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Long-Term Safety, Clinical Activity, and Immune Correlates From a Phase Ia Study
McDermott DF, Sosman JA, Sznol M, Massard C, Gordon MS, Hamid O, Powderly JD, Infante JR, Fassò M, Wang YV, Zou W, Hegde PS, Fine GD, Powles T. Atezolizumab, an Anti–Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Antibody, in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Long-Term Safety, Clinical Activity, and Immune Correlates From a Phase Ia Study. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2016, 34: 833-842. PMID: 26755520, DOI: 10.1200/jco.2015.63.7421.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAntibodies, MonoclonalAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedB7-H1 AntigenBiomarkers, TumorCarcinoma, Renal CellDose-Response Relationship, DrugDose-Response Relationship, ImmunologicFemaleHumansImmunohistochemistryKidney NeoplasmsLymphocytes, Tumor-InfiltratingMaleMiddle AgedT-LymphocytesConceptsMetastatic renal cell carcinomaRenal cell carcinomaClinical activityCell carcinomaImmune cellsAnti-programmed death ligand 1 antibodyImmune-mediated adverse eventsNon-clear cell histologySolid Tumors version 1.1Death ligand 1 antibodyTumor-infiltrating immune cellsEnd pointFuhrman grade 4Phase Ia studyManageable safety profileObjective response ratePrimary end pointSecondary end pointsPD-L1 expressionPD-L1 stainingProgression-free survivalResponse Evaluation CriteriaEffector T cellsAcute phase proteinsGrade 4
2015
Characterization of PD-L1 Expression and Associated T-cell Infiltrates in Metastatic Melanoma Samples from Variable Anatomic Sites
Kluger HM, Zito CR, Barr ML, Baine MK, Chiang VL, Sznol M, Rimm DL, Chen L, Jilaveanu LB. Characterization of PD-L1 Expression and Associated T-cell Infiltrates in Metastatic Melanoma Samples from Variable Anatomic Sites. Clinical Cancer Research 2015, 21: 3052-3060. PMID: 25788491, PMCID: PMC4490112, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-14-3073.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPD-L1 expressionT-cell contentPD-1/PD-L1 inhibitorsHigher T-cell contentT-cell infiltratesPD-L1 inhibitorsAnatomic sitesBrain metastasesMetastatic melanomaTissue microarrayHigh PD-L1 expressionLess PD-L1 expressionLow PD-L1 expressionTumor PD-L1 expressionHigher TIL contentImproved overall survivalT cell infiltrationLess T cellsMetastatic melanoma samplesExtracerebral metastasesCerebral metastasesOverall survivalDermal metastasesImproved survivalPD-L1
2013
Programmed death ligand-1 expression in non-small cell lung cancer
Velcheti V, Schalper KA, Carvajal DE, Anagnostou VK, Syrigos KN, Sznol M, Herbst RS, Gettinger SN, Chen L, Rimm DL. Programmed death ligand-1 expression in non-small cell lung cancer. Laboratory Investigation 2013, 94: 107-116. PMID: 24217091, PMCID: PMC6125250, DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.2013.130.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAgedB7-H1 AntigenBiomarkers, TumorCarcinoma, Non-Small-Cell LungCell Line, TumorChi-Square DistributionCohort StudiesConnecticutFemaleGreeceHumansImmunohistochemistryLung NeoplasmsLymphocytes, Tumor-InfiltratingMalePrognosisReproducibility of ResultsRNA, MessengerSurvival AnalysisTissue Array AnalysisConceptsNon-small cell lung cancerPD-L1 expressionCell lung cancerPD-L1Tissue microarrayBetter outcomesNSCLC casesLung cancerDeath ligand 1 (PD-L1) expressionCell death ligand 1PD-L1 protein expressionEarly phase clinical trialsLigand 1 expressionTumor-infiltrating lymphocytesDeath ligand 1Significant better outcomePD-L1 mRNAPD-L1 proteinPhase clinical trialsNormal human placentaPrediction of responseQuantitative fluorescence approachesFrequency of expressionPD-1Prognostic value
2012
Chitinase-like Proteins in Lung Injury, Repair, and Metastasis
Lee CG, Dela Cruz CS, Ma B, Ahangari F, Zhou Y, Halaban R, Sznol M, Elias JA. Chitinase-like Proteins in Lung Injury, Repair, and Metastasis. Annals Of The American Thoracic Society 2012, 9: 57-61. PMID: 22550243, PMCID: PMC3359113, DOI: 10.1513/pats.201112-056ms.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2011
Plasma Markers for Identifying Patients with Metastatic Melanoma
Kluger HM, Hoyt K, Bacchiocchi A, Mayer T, Kirsch J, Kluger Y, Sznol M, Ariyan S, Molinaro A, Halaban R. Plasma Markers for Identifying Patients with Metastatic Melanoma. Clinical Cancer Research 2011, 17: 2417-2425. PMID: 21487066, PMCID: PMC3415234, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-10-2402.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAgedAntigens, CDBiomarkers, TumorCell Adhesion MoleculesEnzyme-Linked Immunosorbent AssayExtracellular Matrix ProteinsFemaleGlycoproteinsGrowth Differentiation Factor 15HumansIntercellular Adhesion Molecule-1L-Lactate DehydrogenaseMaleMelanomaMiddle AgedNeoplasm MetastasisNeoplasm ProteinsNeoplasm Recurrence, LocalNeoplasm StagingNerve Growth FactorsPrognosisReproducibility of ResultsS100 Calcium Binding Protein beta SubunitS100 ProteinsSensitivity and SpecificityTissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1ConceptsGenome-wide gene expression dataGene expression dataHigh expression levelsLevels of proteinExpression dataExpression levelsProteinMelanoma cellsStage I/II diseaseEqual-sized trainingMarkersGenesDisease recurrencePlasma markersMetastatic melanomaTIMP-1Lactate dehydrogenaseCEACAMsStage I/II patientsDehydrogenaseOsteopontinStage IV diseaseStage IV patientsMetastatic melanoma patientsGender-matched patientsFuture perspectives in melanoma research. Meeting report from the "Melanoma Research: a bridge Naples-USA. Naples, December 6th-7th2010"
Ascierto PA, De Maio E, Bertuzzi S, Palmieri G, Halaban R, Hendrix M, Kashani-sabet M, Ferrone S, Wang E, Cochran A, Rivoltini L, Lee PP, Fox BA, Kirkwood JM, Ullmann CD, Lehmann FF, Sznol M, Schwartzentruber DJ, Maio M, Flaherty K, Galon J, Ribas A, Yang J, Stroncek DF, Mozzillo N, Marincola FM. Future perspectives in melanoma research. Meeting report from the "Melanoma Research: a bridge Naples-USA. Naples, December 6th-7th2010". Journal Of Translational Medicine 2011, 9: 32. PMID: 21439082, PMCID: PMC3078100, DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-9-32.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsBiomarkers, TumorClinical Trials as TopicHumansItalyMelanomaMiceResearchSignal TransductionUnited StatesMolecular Markers of Response to Treatment for Melanoma
Sznol M. Molecular Markers of Response to Treatment for Melanoma. The Cancer Journal 2011, 17: 127-133. PMID: 21427556, DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0b013e318212dd5a.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAngiogenesis InhibitorsAntineoplastic AgentsBiomarkers, TumorHumansImmunotherapyMelanomaMolecular Targeted TherapyConceptsImmune therapyAnti-tumor immune responseInitial high response rateStandard of careFraction of patientsUseful predictive biomarkerHigh response rateMost patientsMetastatic melanomaPredictive biomarkersClinical activityImmune responseIndividual patientsPotent small molecule inhibitorsDurable benefitMultiple active agentsSmall molecule inhibitorsResponse ratePatientsMutant BRAFOverall populationTherapyMolecule inhibitorsMelanomaTumors
2009
Genome-wide screen of promoter methylation identifies novel markers in melanoma
Koga Y, Pelizzola M, Cheng E, Krauthammer M, Sznol M, Ariyan S, Narayan D, Molinaro AM, Halaban R, Weissman SM. Genome-wide screen of promoter methylation identifies novel markers in melanoma. Genome Research 2009, 19: 1462-1470. PMID: 19491193, PMCID: PMC2720187, DOI: 10.1101/gr.091447.109.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdaptor Proteins, Signal TransducingAdultAgedBiomarkers, TumorCells, CulturedCluster AnalysisCollagenCollagen Type IDNA MethylationFemaleGene Expression ProfilingGenome, HumanGenome-Wide Association StudyHSP20 Heat-Shock ProteinsHumansInfant, NewbornMaleMelanomaMetallothioneinMiddle AgedMolecular ChaperonesNuclear ProteinsNucleoplasminsOligonucleotide Array Sequence AnalysisPhosphoproteinsPromoter Regions, GeneticProteinsReproducibility of ResultsReverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain ReactionSequence Analysis, DNATumor Cells, CulturedConceptsDifferential gene expressionGene expressionPromoter methylationGenome-wide promoter methylationGenome-wide integrative analysisPromoter CpG contentMethylation markersGenome-wide screenSequencing of bisulfiteTranscription start siteMelanoma cell strainsCell strainsTranscriptional machineryNovel genesEpigenetic modificationsDNA methylationIdentifies novel markersStart siteSnap-frozen tissuesCpG contentAdult melanocytesIntegrative analysisReal-time reverse transcriptase PCRHuman diseasesMethylationIntegrative Analysis of Epigenetic Modulation in Melanoma Cell Response to Decitabine: Clinical Implications
Halaban R, Krauthammer M, Pelizzola M, Cheng E, Kovacs D, Sznol M, Ariyan S, Narayan D, Bacchiocchi A, Molinaro A, Kluger Y, Deng M, Tran N, Zhang W, Picardo M, Enghild JJ. Integrative Analysis of Epigenetic Modulation in Melanoma Cell Response to Decitabine: Clinical Implications. PLOS ONE 2009, 4: e4563. PMID: 19234609, PMCID: PMC2642998, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0004563.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDNA damage responseMelanoma cell responseDamage responseGene expressionIntegrative analysisDifferential gene expressionMelanoma cell strainsGene expression profilesDNA promoter methylationP53-independent mannerHistone modificationsImproved combination therapiesEpigenetic modifiersTGFbeta pathwayBioinformatics analysisProtein stabilityEpigenetic modulationResistant melanoma cellsExpression profilesGrowth arrestPromoter methylationCancer cellsCell strainsProteasome inhibitorsPTEN mutations