Association of CTLA-4 Polymorphisms with Improved Overall Survival in Melanoma Patients Treated with CTLA-4 Blockade: A Pilot Study

CTLA-4 blockade with monoclonal antibodies can lead to cancer regression in patients with metastatic melanoma (MM). CTLA-4 gene polymorphisms may influence the response to anti-CTLA-4 antibodies although few data are available regarding this issue. We analyzed six CTLA-4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (-1661A>G,-1577G>A, -658C>T, -319C> T, +49A>G, and CT60G>A) in 14 Italian MM patients and 45 healthy subjects. We found a significant association between the -1577G/A and CT60G/A genotypes and improved overall survival (Pc < 0.006, Bonferroni corrected), further confirmed by the diplotype analysis (-1577&CT60 GG-AA diplotype, p < 0.001). A positive trend toward an association between these genotypes and response to therapy was also observed.