“Repurposing” drugs means that researchers may discover that certain compounds or therapies for one condition could be translated into the treatment plan for other conditions. Recently, research published in the American Journal of Dermatopathology covered a study that examined just that. According to News Medical, recent research found that immunotherapies designed for certain types of cancers may also be effective in treating patients with cutaneous angiosarcoma.
The Research
Typically, treatments for cutaneous angiosarcoma rely on radiation and chemotherapy, as well as surgery. However, according to Dr. Paul Googe, these treatments are not always effective. Thus, researchers wanted to understand how to create a more effective and accessible treatment option. They felt as though immunotherapy, which is effective in melanoma and lung cancer, could be an option.
To begin, researchers sourced tumor tissue from 10 patients with cutaneous angiosarcoma. 50% were female and 50% were male. Patient ages ranged from 59-82. Next, researchers searched for tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and surface protein markers called PD-1 and PD-L1. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) defines TILs as:
A type of immune cell that has moved from the blood into a tumor. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes can recognize and kill cancer cells.
While TILs can destroy cancer cells, PD-1 and PD-L1 play a role in the immune system. As a result, they can block this type of activity. Treatments, like immunotherapy, who suppress PD-1 can prompt a heightened immune response. In this case, it would allow TILs more access to kill cancer cells.
In all 10 tissue samples, researchers found PD-L1; 70% of these tumors also expressed extremely high levels. However, all tumors also showed signs of TILs. To researchers, this suggests that immunotherapies like pembrolizumab could benefit patients with cutaneous angiosarcoma by prompting additional TILs. A Phase 2 clinical trial will explore the use of immunotherapies for patients with cutaneous angiosarcoma. Altogether, up to 90 patients will enroll.
Cutaneous Angiosarcoma
In an article published in the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, authors Sreedevi Ambujam, Moutusi Audhya, Asritha Reddy, and Sumit Roy describe cutaneous angiosarcoma as:
a rare, highly malignant vascular tumor. There are three clinical types of cutaneous angiosarcoma which include angiosarcoma of head, neck and face of the elderly angiosarcoma associated with chronic lymphedema, and post-irradiation angiosarcoma.
Around half of all cases are localized to the head, neck, or scalp. Typically, cutaneous angiosarcoma affects Caucasian patients. This rare cancer is much less likely to appear on someone of any other descent, particularly African-Americans or Indians. Elderly patients are much more likely than younger individuals to develop this cancer. Additionally, males are affected at a higher rate than females.
