Sex-Based Differences in Treatment with Immune Checkpoint Inhibition and Targeted Therapy for Advanced Melanoma: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Monique K. van der Kooij; Olaf M. Dekkers; Maureen J. B. Aarts; Franchette W. P. J. van den Berkmortel; Marye J. Boers-Sonderen; Jan Willem B. de Groot; Geke A. P. Hospers; Djura Piersma; Rozemarijn S. van Rijn; Karijn P. M. Suijkerbuijk; Hans M. Westgeest; Astrid A. M. van der Veldt; Gerard Vreugdenhil; Sofie Wilgenhof; Michel W. J. M. Wouters; John B. A. G. Haanen; Alfonsus J. M. van den Eertwegh; Ellen Kapiteijn

doi:10.3390/cancers13184639

Cancers (Sep 2021)

Sex-Based Differences in Treatment with Immune Checkpoint Inhibition and Targeted Therapy for Advanced Melanoma: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Monique K. van der Kooij,
Olaf M. Dekkers,
Maureen J. B. Aarts,
Franchette W. P. J. van den Berkmortel,
Marye J. Boers-Sonderen,
Jan Willem B. de Groot,
Geke A. P. Hospers,
Djura Piersma,
Rozemarijn S. van Rijn,
Karijn P. M. Suijkerbuijk,
Hans M. Westgeest,
Astrid A. M. van der Veldt,
Gerard Vreugdenhil,
Sofie Wilgenhof,
Michel W. J. M. Wouters,
John B. A. G. Haanen,
Alfonsus J. M. van den Eertwegh,
Ellen Kapiteijn

Affiliations

Monique K. van der Kooij: Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
Olaf M. Dekkers: Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
Maureen J. B. Aarts: Department of Medical Oncology, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands
Franchette W. P. J. van den Berkmortel: Department of Medical Oncology, Zuyderland Medical Center, 6130 MB Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands
Marye J. Boers-Sonderen: Department of Medical Oncology, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Jan Willem B. de Groot: Isala Oncology Center, Isala, 8000 GK Zwolle, The Netherlands
Geke A. P. Hospers: Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
Djura Piersma: Department of Medical Oncology, Medisch Spectrum Twente, Koningsplein 1, 7512 KZ Enschede, The Netherlands
Rozemarijn S. van Rijn: Department of Medical Oncology, Medical Center Leeuwarden, Henri Dunantweg 2, 8934 AD Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
Karijn P. M. Suijkerbuijk: Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
Hans M. Westgeest: Department of Internal Medicine, Amphia Ziekenhuis, Molengracht 21, 4818 CK Breda, The Netherlands
Astrid A. M. van der Veldt: Departments of Medical Oncology and Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Gerard Vreugdenhil: Department of Medical Oncology, Maxima Medical Center, de Run 4600, 5500 MB Veldhoven, The Netherlands
Sofie Wilgenhof: Department of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute—Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Michel W. J. M. Wouters: Dutch Institute for Clinical Auditing, Rijnsburgerweg 10, 2333 AA Leiden, The Netherlands
John B. A. G. Haanen: Department of Medical Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute—Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Alfonsus J. M. van den Eertwegh: Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, de Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Ellen Kapiteijn: Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13184639
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 18
p. 4639

Abstract

Read online

Recent meta-analyses show conflicting data on sex-dependent benefit following systemic treatment for advanced melanoma patients. We examined the nationwide Dutch Melanoma Treatment Registry (July 2013–July 2018), assessing sex-dependent differences in advanced melanoma patients (stage IIIC/IV) with respect to clinical characteristics, mutational profiles, treatments initiated, grade 3–4 adverse events (AEs), treatment responses, and mortality. We included 3985 patients, 2363 men (59%) and showed that although men and women with advanced melanoma differ in clinical and tumor characteristics, the safety profile of immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) is comparable. The data suggest a 10% survival advantage for women, mainly seen in patients ≥60 years of age and patients with BRAF V600 mutant melanoma. Following ICI there was no survival difference.

Published in Cancers

ISSN: 2072-6694 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cancers/

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords