Biomarkers are needed to identify patients who benefit most from targeted or immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy in metastatic melanoma. This webinar will share an analysis of biomarkers using pre-treatment melanoma samples from the dabrafenib plus trametinib arm of the randomized, Phase III COMBI-v trial using the HALO® image analysis platform combined with gene expression analysis using the Nanostring nCounter technology.

This is believed to be the first large-scale analysis of gene expression signatures, tumor cell interactions and T- and B-cell interactions by digital pathology in patients treated with targeted therapy. Distinct T-cell/B-cell signatures at baseline demonstrated prognostic value, as high T-cell/low B-cell signatures were associated with prolonged survival vs. high T-cell/high B-cell signatures.

Patients with high B-cell signatures had high tumor B-cell infiltration associated with a modified tumor cell phenotype. Recent findings show high T-cell/high B-cell signatures at screening correlated with improved response to ICIs vs. low B-cell signatures. B cells may be potential biomarkers to identify patients who could achieve improved clinical benefit.