Sarcopenia is poor prognostic factor in japanese patients with advanced melanoma

Summary: Abstract Body: Background&Aims: Sarcopenia is associated with poor immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) efficacy in patients with melanoma; however, whether this is true in all populations remains to be explored. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of sarcopenia on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with advanced melanoma treated with ICI. Methods: We retrospectively collected the clinical data of consecutive patients with advanced melanoma who received ICI as first-line treatment between 2013 and 2024 at our institution. To diagnose insufficient muscle mass, the skeletal muscle index (SMI) at the third lumbar spine was calculated from computed tomography (CT) images, and SMI values < 42 cm2/m2 for men and < 38 cm2/m2 for women diagnosed sarcopenia. The association of insufficient muscle mass, OS, and PFS with ICI treatment in patients was investigated. Results: 76 patients with advanced melanoma were assessed retrospectively at our institution; 32 were in the sarcopenia group, while 44 were in the non-sarcopenia group. The median OS in patients with and without sarcopenia was 10.6 and 39.0 months (hazard ratio [HR] 3.12, 95% confidence interval [Cl], 1.65–5.89; p < 0.001) and median PFS was 2.4 and 18.0 months, respectively (HR, 3.10; 95% Cl 1.74–5.54, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed significantly poor differences in OS (HR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.20–5.03; p = 0.01) and significant differences in PFS independently in the sarcopenia group (HR, 3.10; 95% CI, 1.74–5.54; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Sarcopenia may be a poor prognostic factor for advanced melanoma patients treated with ICI. Kohei Yamakawa¹, Yusuke Kurita¹, Hideyuki Ishikawa², Masahiro Aichi¹, Shintaro Fujita¹, Sho Hasegawa¹, Shingo Kato¹, Yukie Yamaguchi¹ 1. Yokohama Shiritsu Daigaku Igakubu Daigakuin Igaku Kenkyuka, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. 2. Yokohama Shiritsu Daigaku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Pigmentation, Melanoma, and Melanoma Immune Surveillance