KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The study aimed to investigate the comparative efficacy of novel treatments vs the current standard of care for melanoma-associated LMD.
- Researchers noticed that novel treatments show promise but need further study to confirm their superiority over the standard of care.
Jia Jia Teo and the team aimed to focus on evaluating the comparative effectiveness of novel therapies vs the standard of care for melanoma-associated leptomeningeal disease (LMD).
Melanoma is a leading cause of LMD in patients with cancer, and its prognosis remains poor. In response, ongoing clinical trials are investigating a range of innovative treatments to improve outcomes for patients. This systematic review and network meta-analysis aim to assess the available evidence, comparing the therapeutic benefits and outcomes of these novel approaches against established treatment protocols.
They performed an inclusive analysis by conducting a comprehensive search across multiple databases, including PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science, for relevant studies published from January 2014 to January 2024. The analysis included primary research studies, such as observational studies, randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental design studies, clinical trials, and experimental studies, specifically focusing on patients with LMD caused by metastatic melanoma.
Data extraction was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines, and quality assessment and risk of bias were performed individually using the GRADE method. A network meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of multiple interventions within the study, and overall survival outcomes were quantified using log hazard ratios.
About 680 records were screened for eligibility, resulting in seven carefully selected studies that met the specific inclusion criteria, providing insights into the management of 397 patients grappling with LMD due to metastatic melanoma. These studies vary in design: one observational cohort study with 29 participants, a clinical trial with 25 patients, 4 retrospective cohort studies ranging from 39 to 190 participants, and 1 experimental study with 24 patients.
The study concluded that despite the significant advancements in treatment options for melanoma-associated LMD, further research is essential to definitively ascertain whether the newer therapeutic approaches provide superior outcomes compared to the current standard of care treatments.
The study received no funds.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39295368/
Teo JJ, Nossier R, Chauhan A, et al. (2024). “AB050. Novel treatment vs. standard of care in melanoma-associated leptomeningeal metastases: a systematic review & network meta-analysis.” Chin Clin Oncol. 2024;13(Suppl 1):AB050. doi:10.21037/cco-24-ab050
