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Lonie JM, Brosda S, Bonazzi VF, Aoude LG, Patel K, Brown I, Sharma S, Lampe G, Addala V, Koufariotis LT, Wood S, Waddell N, Dolcetti R, Barbour AP. The oesophageal adenocarcinoma tumour immune microenvironment dictates outcomes with different modalities of neoadjuvant therapy - results from the AGITG DOCTOR trial and the cancer evolution biobank. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1220129. [PMID: 37965317 PMCID: PMC10642165 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1220129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
A plateau in treatment effect can be seen for the current 'one-size-fits-all' approach to oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) management using neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) or chemotherapy (nCT). In OAC, the tumour microenvironment (TME) is largely immunosuppressed, however a subgroup of patients with an immune-inflamed TME exist and show improved outcomes. We aimed to understand the overall immune-based mechanisms underlying treatment responses and patient outcomes in OAC, and in relation to neoadjuvant therapy modality. This study included 107 patients; 68 patients were enrolled in the Australian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group sponsored DOCTOR Trial, and 38 patients were included from the Cancer Evolution Biobank. Matched pre-treatment and post-treatment tumour biopsies were used to perform multi-modality analysis of the OAC TME including NanoString mRNA expression analysis, multiplex and single colour immunohistochemistry (IHC), and peripheral blood mononuclear cell analysis of tumour-antigen specific T cell responses. Patients with the best clinicopathological outcomes and survival had an immune-inflamed TME enriched with anti-tumour immune cells and pathways. Those with the worst survival showed a myeloid T regulatory cell enriched TME, with decreased CD8+ cell infiltration and increased pro-tumour immune cells. Multiplex IHC analysis identified that high intra-tumoural infiltration of CD8+ cells, and low infiltration with CD163+ cells was associated with improved survival. High tumour core CD8+ T cell infiltration, and a low tumour margin infiltration of CD163+ cells was also associated with improved survival. nCRT showed improved survival compared with nCT for patients with low CD8+, or high CD163+ cell infiltration. Poly-functional T cell responses were seen with tumour-antigen specific T cells. Overall, our study supports the development of personalised therapeutic approaches based on the immune microenvironment in OAC. Patients with an immune-inflamed TME show favourable outcomes regardless of treatment modality. However, in those with an immunosuppressed TME with CD163+ cell infiltration, treatment with nCRT can improve outcomes. Our findings support previous studies into the TME of OAC and with more research, immune based biomarker selection of treatment modality may lead in improved outcomes in this deadly disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M. Lonie
- Surgical Oncology Group, Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Sandra Brosda
- Surgical Oncology Group, Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Vanessa F. Bonazzi
- Surgical Oncology Group, Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Lauren G. Aoude
- Surgical Oncology Group, Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kalpana Patel
- Surgical Oncology Group, Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Ian Brown
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Envoi Specialist Pathologists, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Department of Pathology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Sowmya Sharma
- Medlab Pathology, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Medical Genomics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Guy Lampe
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Central Laboratory Pathology Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Venkateswar Addala
- Medical Genomics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Scott Wood
- Medical Genomics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Nicola Waddell
- Medical Genomics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Riccardo Dolcetti
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Translational and Clinical Immunotherapy, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew P. Barbour
- Surgical Oncology Group, Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Department of Surgery, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Th1-involved immune infiltrates improve neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy response of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2023; 553:215959. [PMID: 36279981 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) followed by surgery is recommended for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treatment. Patients who achieve a pathological complete response (pCR) have better survival. Our study aimed to discover immune-associated predictors of pCR in ESCC. Herein, we found that Th1-cell infiltration inferred from RNA sequencing was higher in the pCR group than in the non-pCR group. Multiplexed immunohistochemistry (mIHC) confirmed that Th1-, CD8+ T-, NK-, NKT-, and dendritic-cell infiltration was positively associated with pCR. The spatial relationships between Th1 cells and CD8+ T, NK, NKT, dendritic, or ESCC cells were significant pCR predictors. The active and desert subtypes were identified based on immune cell infiltration, and showed different pCR rates. In vitro experiments confirmed that Th1 cells inhibited the proliferation and improved the chemosensitivity and radiosensitivity of ESCC cells. Th1 cells upregulated interferon-gamma response signaling and antigen presentation pathways and downregulated lipid metabolism and MAPK pathways of ESCC cells. These findings highlight the important role of Th1 cells as the predictor of pCR and the regulator of chemosensitivity and radiosensitivity of ESCC, and suggest elevating Th1-infiltration as a strategy to improve NCRT response.
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Curry J, Alnemri A, Philips R, Fiorella M, Sussman S, Stapp R, Solomides C, Harshyne L, South A, Luginbuhl A, Tuluc M, Martinez-Outschoorn U, Argiris A, Linnenbach A, Johnson J. CD8+ and FoxP3+ T-Cell Cellular Density and Spatial Distribution After Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Check Point Inhibition. Laryngoscope 2022. [PMID: 36125263 DOI: 10.1002/lary.30389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To analyze CD8+ and FoxP3+ T-cell cellular density (CD) and intercellular distances (ID) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) samples from a neoadjuvant trial of durvalumab +/- metformin. METHODS Paired pre- and post-treatment primary HNSCC tumor samples were stained for CD8+ and FoxP3+. Digital image analysis was used to determine estimated mean CD8+ and FoxP3+ CDs and CD8+-FoxP3+ IDs in the leading tumor edge (LTE) and tumor adjacent stroma (TAS) stratified by treatment arm, human papillomavirus (HPV) status, and pathologic treatment response. A subset of samples was characterized for T-cell related signatures using digital spatial genomic profiling. RESULTS Post-treatment analysis revealed a significant decrease in FoxP3+ CD and an increase in CD8+ CDs in the TAS between patients receiving durvalumab and metformin versus durvlaumab alone. Both treatment arms demonstrated significant post-treatment increases in ID. Although HPV+ and HPV- had similar immune cell CDs in the tumor microenvironment, HPV+ pre-treatment samples had 1.60 times greater ID compared with HPV- samples, trending toward significance (p = 0.05). At baseline, pathologic responders demonstrated a 1.16-fold greater CD8+ CDs in the LTE (p = 0.045) and 2.28-fold greater ID (p = 0.001) than non-responders. Digital spatial profiling revealed upregulation of FoxP3+ and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) in the TAS (p = 0.006, p = 0.026) in samples from pathologic responders. CONCLUSIONS Analysis of CD8+ and FoxP3+ detected population differences according to HPV status, pathologic response, and treatment. Greater CD8+-FoxP3+ ID was associated with pathologic response. CD8+ and FoxP3+ T-cell distributions may be predictive of response to immune checkpoint inhibition. CLINICALTRIALS gov (Identifier NCT03618654). LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level 3 Laryngoscope, 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Curry
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Angela Alnemri
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Ramez Philips
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Michele Fiorella
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Sarah Sussman
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Robert Stapp
- Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Charalambos Solomides
- Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Larry Harshyne
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.,Department of Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Andrew South
- Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Adam Luginbuhl
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Madalina Tuluc
- Department of Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | | | - Athanassios Argiris
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Alban Linnenbach
- Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
| | - Jennifer Johnson
- Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
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PD-1 and PD-L1 expression predict regression and prognosis following neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy of oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Clin Transl Radiat Oncol 2022; 34:90-98. [PMID: 35402739 PMCID: PMC8991306 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctro.2022.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Focus on pretherapeutic biopsies of patients with oesophageal adenocarcinoma. PD-1 and PDL-1 expression predict response to RCT and prognosis. PD-1 expression seems to be a better prognostic marker than PDL-1 expression.
Background and purpose PD-1 and PD-L1 are involved in anticancer immunosurveillance, and their expression may be predictive for therapeutic effectiveness of specific antibodies. Their influence on response to neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (RCT) and prognosis in patients with oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) remains to be defined. Materials and methods Between 10/2004 and 06/2018, complete pre-RCT biopsy-specimens were available from 76 patients with locally advanced, non-metastatic OAC scheduled for trimodality therapy. We evaluated intra- and peritumoural expression of CD8, PD-1 and PD-L1 in pre-treatment specimens to determine their influence on tumour regression grade and survival. PD-1 and PD-L1 expression were considered positive (+) if ≥1% of all cells were stained positive, otherwise negative (-); densities of CD8+ cells were categorized as being high (Hi) or low (Lo) according to the median. Results A negative PD-L1 expression in peritumoural cells predicted a poor tumour regression (RD 0.24 [95% CI 0.03–0.44], p = 0.023). A positive PD-1 expression in intra- as well as peritumoural cells was identified as an unfavourable prognostic factor (HR 0.52 [95% CI 0.29–0.93], p = 0.028; HR 0.50 [0.25–0.99], p = 0.047, respectively). With respect to CD8+ infiltration, positive PD-1 and PD-L1 expressions attenuated its favourable prognostic effect in intratumoural area (LoCD8/PD1 + vs. HiCD8/PD1-: HR 0.25 [0.09–0.69], p = 0.007; LoCD8/PDL1+ vs. HiCD8/PDL1-: HR 0.32 [0.12–0.89], p = 0.028) and were associated with negative outcome when seen in peritumoural area (HiCD8/PD1+ vs. LoCD8/PD1-: HR 0.29 [0.11–0.74], p = 0.010); HiCD8/PDL1+ vs. LoCD8/PDL1-: HR 0.33 [0.12–0.90], p = 0.031). Conclusions PD-1 and PD-L1 expression were identified to be of predictive and prognostic value in patients with OAC, particularly when considering CD8+ infiltration. Further validation by a large size dataset is required.
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Goedegebuure RSA, Harrasser M, de Klerk LK, van Schooten TS, van Grieken NCT, Eken M, Grifhorst MS, Pocorni N, Jordanova ES, van Berge Henegouwen MI, Pouw RE, Verheul HMW, van der Vliet JJ, van Laarhoven HWM, Thijssen VLJL, Bass AJ, De Gruijl TD, Derks S. Pre-treatment tumor-infiltrating T cells influence response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in esophageal adenocarcinoma. Oncoimmunology 2021; 10:1954807. [PMID: 34377591 PMCID: PMC8344794 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2021.1954807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is a disease with dismal treatment outcomes. Response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) varies greatly. Although the underlying mechanisms of CRT resistance are not identified, accumulating evidence indicates an important role for local antitumor immunity. To explore the immune microenvironment in relation to response to CRT we performed an in-depth analysis using multiplex immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and mRNA expression analysis (NanoString) to generate a detailed map of the immunological landscape of pretreatment biopsies as well as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of EAC patients. Response to CRT was assessed by Mandard’s tumor regression grade (TRG), disease-free- and overall survival. Tumors with a complete pathological response (TRG 1) to neoadjuvant CRT had significantly higher tumor-infiltrating T cell levels compared to all other response groups (TRG 2–5). These T cells were also in closer proximity to tumor cells in complete responders compared to other response groups. Notably, immune profiles of near-complete responders (TRG 2) showed more resemblance to non-responders (TRG 3–5) than to complete responders. A high CD8:CD163 ratio in the tumor was associated with an improved disease-free survival. Gene expression analyses revealed that T cells in non-responders were Th2-skewed, while complete responders were enriched in cytotoxic immune cells. Finally, complete responders were enriched in circulating memory T cells. preexisting immune activation enhances the chance for a complete pathological response to neoadjuvant CRT. This information can potentially be used for future patient selection, but also fuels the development of immunomodulatory strategies to enhance CRT efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- R S A Goedegebuure
- Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Nederlands
| | - M Harrasser
- Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Nederlands
| | - L K de Klerk
- Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Nederlands.,Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology, Boston, MA, USA
| | - T S van Schooten
- Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Nederlands
| | - N C T van Grieken
- Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, Department of Pathology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M Eken
- Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M S Grifhorst
- Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - N Pocorni
- Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - E S Jordanova
- Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Gynecologic Oncology Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M I van Berge Henegouwen
- Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, Department of Surgery, Cancer Center Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R E Pouw
- Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, Department of Gastroenterology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - H M W Verheul
- Radboud UMC, Department of Medical Oncology, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - J J van der Vliet
- Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,LAVA Therapeutics, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - H W M van Laarhoven
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - V L J L Thijssen
- Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A J Bass
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Medical Oncology, Boston, MA, USA.,Cancer Program, the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - T D De Gruijl
- Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S Derks
- Amsterdam UMC, Location VUMC, Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Nederlands
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