V-erb-a erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 4 (ERBB4) has been reported to be somatically mutated in 19% of melanoma cases.,To investigate the prevalence of ERBB4 mutations in melanoma patients from southern China, we analyzed 117 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded melanoma samples archived in the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center.,A matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) platform was used to screen for mutations.,No ERBB4 hotspot mutations were detected.,Our results indicate that ERBB4 mutations may play a limited role in melanomas in China; therefore, targeting the ERBB4 mutation in melanoma patients from southern China may not be a promising strategy.
Adoptive cell therapy may be based on isolation of tumor-specific T cells, e.g. autologous tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), in vitro activation and expansion and the reinfusion of these cells into patients upon chemotherapy induced lymphodepletion.,Together with high-dose interleukin (IL)-2 this treatment has been given to patients with advanced malignant melanoma and impressive response rates but also significant IL-2 associated toxicity have been observed.,Here we present data from a feasibility study at a Danish Translational Research Center using TIL adoptive transfer in combination with low-dose subcutaneous IL-2 injections.,This is a pilot trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00937625) including patients with metastatic melanoma, PS ≤1, age <70, measurable and progressive disease and no involvement of the central nervous system.,Six patients were treated with lymphodepleting chemotherapy, TIL infusion, and 14 days of subcutaneous low-dose IL-2 injections, 2 MIU/day.,Low-dose IL-2 considerably decreased the treatment related toxicity with no grade 3-4 IL-2 related adverse events.,Objective clinical responses were seen in 2 of 6 treated patients with ongoing complete responses (30+ and 10+ months), 2 patients had stable disease (4 and 5 months) and 2 patients progressed shortly after treatment.,Tumor-reactivity of the infused cells and peripheral lymphocytes before and after therapy were analyzed.,Absolute number of tumor specific T cells in the infusion product tended to correlate with clinical response and also, an induction of peripheral tumor reactive T cells was observed for 1 patient in complete remission.,Complete and durable responses were induced after treatment with adoptive cell therapy in combination with low-dose IL-2 which significantly decreased toxicity of this therapy.