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Pitts SC, Schlom J, Donahue RN. Soluble immune checkpoints: implications for cancer prognosis and response to immune checkpoint therapy and conventional therapies. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:155. [PMID: 38822401 PMCID: PMC11141022 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-03074-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Longitudinal sampling of tumor tissue from patients with solid cancers, aside from melanoma and a few other cases, is often unfeasible, and thus may not capture the plasticity of interactions between the tumor and immune system under selective pressure of a given therapy. Peripheral blood analyses provide salient information about the human peripheral immunome while offering technical and practical advantages over traditional tumor biopsies, and should be utilized where possible alongside interrogation of the tumor. Some common blood-based biomarkers used to study the immune response include immune cell subsets, circulating tumor DNA, and protein analytes such as cytokines. With the recent explosion of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) as a modality of treatment in multiple cancer types, soluble immune checkpoints have become a relevant area of investigation for peripheral immune-based biomarkers. However, the exact functions of soluble immune checkpoints and their roles in cancer for the most part remain unclear. This review discusses current literature on the production, function, and expression of nine soluble immune checkpoints - sPD-L1, sPD-1, sCTLA4, sCD80, sTIM3, sLAG3, sB7-H3, sBTLA, and sHVEM - in patients with solid tumors, and explores their role as biomarkers of response to ICI as well as to conventional therapies (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and surgery) in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie C Pitts
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jeffrey Schlom
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Renee N Donahue
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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2
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Yao S, Han Y, Yang M, Jin K, Lan H. Integration of liquid biopsy and immunotherapy: opening a new era in colorectal cancer treatment. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1292861. [PMID: 38077354 PMCID: PMC10702507 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1292861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has revolutionized the conventional treatment approaches for colorectal cancer (CRC), offering new therapeutic prospects for patients. Liquid biopsy has shown significant potential in early screening, diagnosis, and postoperative monitoring by analyzing circulating tumor cells (CTC) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). In the era of immunotherapy, liquid biopsy provides additional possibilities for guiding immune-based treatments. Emerging technologies such as mass spectrometry-based detection of neoantigens and flow cytometry-based T cell sorting offer new tools for liquid biopsy, aiming to optimize immune therapy strategies. The integration of liquid biopsy with immunotherapy holds promise for improving treatment outcomes in colorectal cancer patients, enabling breakthroughs in early diagnosis and treatment, and providing patients with more personalized, precise, and effective treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiya Yao
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuejun Han
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mengxiang Yang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ketao Jin
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huanrong Lan
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Hangzhou Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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3
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Pettinella F, Lattanzi C, Donini M, Caveggion E, Marini O, Iannoto G, Costa S, Zenaro E, Fortunato TM, Gasperini S, Giani M, Belluomini L, Sposito M, Insolda J, Scaglione IM, Milella M, Adamo A, Poffe O, Bronte V, Dusi S, Cassatella MA, Ugel S, Pilotto S, Scapini P. Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell, Slan +-Monocyte and Natural Killer Cell Counts Function as Blood Cell-Based Biomarkers for Predicting Responses to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Monotherapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5285. [PMID: 37958458 PMCID: PMC10647811 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15215285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), for instance, programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/PD-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) blockers, has greatly improved the outcome of patients affected by non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, most NSCLC patients either do not respond to ICI monotherapy or develop resistance to it after an initial response. Therefore, the identification of biomarkers for predicting the response of patients to ICI monotherapy represents an urgent issue. Great efforts are currently dedicated toward identifying blood-based biomarkers to predict responses to ICI monotherapy. In this study, more commonly utilized blood-based biomarkers, such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the lung immune prognostic index (LIPI) score, as well as the frequency/number and activation status of various types of circulating innate immune cell populations, were evaluated in NSCLC patients at baseline before therapy initiation. The data indicated that, among all the parameters tested, low plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC), slan+-monocyte and natural killer cell counts, as well as a high LIPI score and elevated PD-L1 expression levels on type 1 conventional DCs (cDC1s), were independently correlated with a negative response to ICI therapy in NSCLC patients. The results from this study suggest that the evaluation of innate immune cell numbers and phenotypes may provide novel and promising predictive biomarkers for ICI monotherapy in NSCLC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Pettinella
- General Pathology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy (M.D.); (S.C.); (E.Z.); (T.M.F.); (S.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Chiara Lattanzi
- General Pathology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy (M.D.); (S.C.); (E.Z.); (T.M.F.); (S.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Marta Donini
- General Pathology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy (M.D.); (S.C.); (E.Z.); (T.M.F.); (S.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Elena Caveggion
- General Pathology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy (M.D.); (S.C.); (E.Z.); (T.M.F.); (S.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Olivia Marini
- General Pathology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy (M.D.); (S.C.); (E.Z.); (T.M.F.); (S.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Giulia Iannoto
- General Pathology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy (M.D.); (S.C.); (E.Z.); (T.M.F.); (S.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Sara Costa
- General Pathology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy (M.D.); (S.C.); (E.Z.); (T.M.F.); (S.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Elena Zenaro
- General Pathology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy (M.D.); (S.C.); (E.Z.); (T.M.F.); (S.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Tiago Moderno Fortunato
- General Pathology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy (M.D.); (S.C.); (E.Z.); (T.M.F.); (S.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Sara Gasperini
- General Pathology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy (M.D.); (S.C.); (E.Z.); (T.M.F.); (S.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Matteo Giani
- General Pathology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy (M.D.); (S.C.); (E.Z.); (T.M.F.); (S.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Lorenzo Belluomini
- Section of Innovation Biomedicine—Oncology Area, Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine (DIMI), University of Verona and University and Hospital Trust (AOUI) of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy (M.S.); (I.M.S.); (M.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Marco Sposito
- Section of Innovation Biomedicine—Oncology Area, Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine (DIMI), University of Verona and University and Hospital Trust (AOUI) of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy (M.S.); (I.M.S.); (M.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Jessica Insolda
- Section of Innovation Biomedicine—Oncology Area, Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine (DIMI), University of Verona and University and Hospital Trust (AOUI) of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy (M.S.); (I.M.S.); (M.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Ilaria Mariangela Scaglione
- Section of Innovation Biomedicine—Oncology Area, Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine (DIMI), University of Verona and University and Hospital Trust (AOUI) of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy (M.S.); (I.M.S.); (M.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Michele Milella
- Section of Innovation Biomedicine—Oncology Area, Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine (DIMI), University of Verona and University and Hospital Trust (AOUI) of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy (M.S.); (I.M.S.); (M.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Annalisa Adamo
- Immunology Section, Department of Medicine, University and Hospital Trust (AOUI) of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (A.A.)
| | - Ornella Poffe
- Immunology Section, Department of Medicine, University and Hospital Trust (AOUI) of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (A.A.)
| | - Vincenzo Bronte
- Veneto Institute of Oncology—Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IOV-IRCCS), 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Stefano Dusi
- General Pathology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy (M.D.); (S.C.); (E.Z.); (T.M.F.); (S.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Marco A. Cassatella
- General Pathology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy (M.D.); (S.C.); (E.Z.); (T.M.F.); (S.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Stefano Ugel
- Immunology Section, Department of Medicine, University and Hospital Trust (AOUI) of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (A.A.)
| | - Sara Pilotto
- Section of Innovation Biomedicine—Oncology Area, Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine (DIMI), University of Verona and University and Hospital Trust (AOUI) of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy (M.S.); (I.M.S.); (M.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Patrizia Scapini
- General Pathology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy (M.D.); (S.C.); (E.Z.); (T.M.F.); (S.G.); (M.G.)
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Cohen M, Shamay Y, Czamanski-Cohen J, Shulman K, Keren Rosenberg S, Abu-Amna M, Turgeman I, Merkin Livshits L, Birenboim R, Dines M, Bar-Sela G. Linkage between Psychological Factors and Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy: A Preliminary Study. Cells 2023; 12:2471. [PMID: 37887315 PMCID: PMC10605722 DOI: 10.3390/cells12202471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Substantial evidence has accumulated showing that psychological distress affects immune regulation, the response to cancer treatment, and survival. The effect of psychological parameters on the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment has not yet been studied. This preliminary study aimed to (a) examine the associations between psychological factors and responses to ICI treatment and (b) assess the associations between psychological factors and blood measures of sPD-1, sCTLA-4, and cytokines that may alter the effect of ICI treatment. The participants were 62 individuals with advanced cancer, aged 18 years or older, who were candidates for ICI treatment as a new line of treatment. The participants answered questionnaires and provided blood samples and medical data prior to the start of ICI treatment and 3 months after. Perceived health status was positively associated with better responses to ICI treatment. In the subsample of participants with biomarkers, worse health-related quality of life was associated with higher IL-6 and sCTLA-4; emotional distress and sleep difficulties were associated with higher sCTLA-4; and better perceived health was associated with lower IL-6 and TNFα. sPD-1 was not associated with psychological measures. This preliminary study found for the first time that some psychological measures could be linked to responses to cancer treatment, possibly via pro-inflammatory cytokines and sCTLA-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miri Cohen
- School of Social Work, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel;
| | - Yosi Shamay
- Biomedical Engineering, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3109601, Israel;
| | - Johanna Czamanski-Cohen
- Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, School of Creative Arts Therapies, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel; (J.C.-C.); (M.D.)
| | - Katerina Shulman
- Carmel Medical Center, Haifa 3436212, Israel; (K.S.); (L.M.L.)
- Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3109601, Israel
- Lin Medical Center, Haifa 6688304, Israel;
| | | | - Mahmoud Abu-Amna
- Cancer Center, Emek Medical Center, Afula 1834111, Israel; (M.A.-A.); (I.T.)
| | - Ilit Turgeman
- Cancer Center, Emek Medical Center, Afula 1834111, Israel; (M.A.-A.); (I.T.)
| | - Ludmila Merkin Livshits
- Carmel Medical Center, Haifa 3436212, Israel; (K.S.); (L.M.L.)
- Lin Medical Center, Haifa 6688304, Israel;
| | | | - Monica Dines
- Emili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, School of Creative Arts Therapies, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel; (J.C.-C.); (M.D.)
| | - Gil Bar-Sela
- Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3109601, Israel
- Cancer Center, Emek Medical Center, Afula 1834111, Israel; (M.A.-A.); (I.T.)
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5
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Wu R, Liu W, Yang Q, Zhang J, Hou P, Xiong J, Wu L, Li E. LncTUG1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma immune evasion via upregulating PD-L1 expression. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16998. [PMID: 37813900 PMCID: PMC10562488 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42948-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
HCC is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. Although traditional treatment methods have been improved in recent years, the survival rate of HCC patients has not been significantly improved. Immunotherapy has shown extremely high clinical value in a variety of tumors. In this study, we found that TUG1 could regulate the expression of PD-L1 through JAK2/STAT3 to mediate immunosuppression. Here, The expression of TUG1 and PD-L1 in HCC tissues was evaluated through analysis of databases and verified in HCC tissue and HCC cancer cells by qRT-PCR. The effect of TUG1 on tumor immune escape was detected by coculture, and cell viability was detected with a CCK8 assay. The results demonstrated that TUG1 was closely associated with anticancer immunity. TUG1 and PD-L1 were highly expressed in HCC tissues and HCC cancer cells, and high expression of TUG1 and PD-L1 was related to the poor prognosis of HCC patients. In addition, knocking down TUG1 expression could reduce PD-L1 expression and enhance the cancer cell-killing capability of T cells. Downregulating TUG1 expression could also decrease the mRNA and protein expression of JAK2 and STAT3. To sum up, TUG1 and PD-L1 are overexpressed in patients with liver cancer and are related to the poor prognosis of these patients. Silencing TUG1 expression reduced the mRNA and protein expression of PD-L1 by affecting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongshou Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiwei Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, 83 Xinqiao Main Street, Chongqing, 400000, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingping Yang
- Department of Assisted Reproductive, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingling Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Hou
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianghui Xiong
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Linquan Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.
| | - Enliang Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.
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Optimizing the tumor shrinkage threshold for evaluating immunotherapy efficacy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:1103-1113. [PMID: 35304630 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-022-03978-3] [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: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The rise of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in recent years has coincided with unusual clinical response patterns. Modification of the sum of longest diameters (SLD)-based threshold that reflecting dynamic change of the tumor burden and predicting response to ICIs, may markedly improve current treatment regimens. METHODS The baseline and post-treatment SLD of target lesion was recorded and the maximum percent change of the SLD from baseline was designated as SLD-change score. The optimal cut-off value was obtained using the X-tile program. The relationship between SLD-change score and survival outcome (PFS, OS) was evaluated. RESULTS 10% cut-off value of SLD-change score was found to be most distinctive for PFS. Responders defined according to this cut-off value showed a significant improvement for PFS and OS. Bone metastasis and brain metastasis were also two independent prognostic factors of PFS and OS, respectively. CONCLUSIONS 10% SLD change score could discriminate for ICIs treatment response, which holds great promise in promoting the development of precise immunotherapeutic strategy.
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Tuli HS, Garg VK, Choudhary R, Iqubal A, Sak K, Saini AK, Saini RV, Vashishth K, Dhama K, Mohapatra RK, Gupta DS, Kaur G. Immunotherapeutics in lung cancers: from mechanistic insight to clinical implications and synergistic perspectives. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:2685-2700. [PMID: 36534236 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-08180-9] [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: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lung cancer is one of the highly lethal forms of cancer whose incidence has worldwide rapidly increased over the past few decades. About 80-85% of all lung cancer cases constitute non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma as the main subtypes. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have led to significant advances in the treatment of a variety of solid tumors, significantly improving cancer patient survival rates. METHODS AND RESULTS The cytotoxic drugs in combination with anti-PD-(L)1 antibodies is a new method that aims to reduce the activation of immunosuppressive and cancer cell prosurvival responses while also improving direct cancer cell death. The most commonly utilized immune checkpoint inhibitors for patients with non-small cell lung cancer are monoclonal antibodies (Atezolizumab, Cemiplimab, Ipilimumab, Pembrolizumab etc.) against PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4. Among them, Atezolizumab (TECENTRIQ) and Cemiplimab (Libtayo) are engineered monoclonal anti programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibodies that inhibit binding of PD-L1 to PD-1 and B7.1. As a result, T-cell proliferation and cytokine synthesis are inhibited leading to restoring the immune homeostasis to fight cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS In this review article, the path leading to the introduction of immunotherapeutic options in lung cancer treatment is described, with analyzing the benefits and shortages of the current immunotherapeutic drugs. In addition, possibilities to co-administer immunotherapeutic agents with standard cancer treatment modalities are also considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hardeep Singh Tuli
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar Engineering College, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to Be University), Mullana- Ambala, Haryana, 133 207, India.
| | - Vivek K Garg
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, University Institute of Applied Health Sciences, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali, Punjab, 140413, India
| | - Renuka Choudhary
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar Engineering College, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to Be University), Mullana- Ambala, Haryana, 133 207, India
| | - Ashif Iqubal
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Formerly, Faculty of Pharmacy), Jamia Hamdard (Deemed to Be University), Delhi, India
| | | | - Adesh K Saini
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar Engineering College, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to Be University), Mullana- Ambala, Haryana, 133 207, India
| | - Reena V Saini
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar Engineering College, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to Be University), Mullana- Ambala, Haryana, 133 207, India
| | - Kanupriya Vashishth
- Advance Cardiac Centre Department of Cardiology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Kuldeep Dhama
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, 243122, India
| | - Ranjan K Mohapatra
- Department of Chemistry, Government College of Engineering, Keonjhar, Odisha, 758002, India
| | - Dhruv Sanjay Gupta
- Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy and Technology Management, SVKM's NMIMS, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 40056, India
| | - Ginpreet Kaur
- Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy and Technology Management, SVKM's NMIMS, Mumbai, Maharashtra, 40056, India
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Russano M, La Cava G, Cortellini A, Citarella F, Galletti A, Di Fazio GR, Santo V, Brunetti L, Vendittelli A, Fioroni I, Pantano F, Tonini G, Vincenzi B. Immunotherapy for Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Therapeutic Advances and Biomarkers. Curr Oncol 2023; 30:2366-2387. [PMID: 36826142 PMCID: PMC9955173 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30020181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment paradigm of non-small cell lung cancer and improved patients' prognosis. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have quickly become standard frontline treatment for metastatic non-oncogene addicted disease, either as a single agent or in combination strategies. However, only a few patients have long-term benefits, and most of them do not respond or develop progressive disease during treatment. Thus, the identification of reliable predictive and prognostic biomarkers remains crucial for patient selection and guiding therapeutic choices. In this review, we provide an overview of the current strategies, highlighting the main clinical challenges and novel potential biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Russano
- Department of Medical Oncology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06225411252
| | - Giulia La Cava
- Department of Medical Oncology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessio Cortellini
- Department of Medical Oncology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Citarella
- Department of Medical Oncology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Galletti
- Division of Medical Oncology, San Camillo Forlanini Hospital, 00152 Roma, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Rita Di Fazio
- Department of Medical Oncology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Santo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Leonardo Brunetti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Vendittelli
- Department of Medical Oncology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Iacopo Fioroni
- Department of Medical Oncology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Pantano
- Department of Medical Oncology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Tonini
- Department of Medical Oncology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Bruno Vincenzi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
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Wei C, Wang M, Gao Q, Yuan S, Deng W, Bie L, Ma Y, Zhang C, Li S, Luo S, Li N. Dynamic peripheral blood immune cell markers for predicting the response of patients with metastatic cancer to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023; 72:23-37. [PMID: 35661905 PMCID: PMC9813029 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-022-03221-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown durable responses in various malignancies. However, the response to ICI therapy is unpredictable, and investigation of predictive biomarkers needs to be improved. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN In total, 120 patients receiving ICI therapy and 40 patients receiving non-ICI therapy were enrolled. Peripheral blood immune cell markers (PBIMs), as liquid biopsy biomarkers, were analyzed by flow cytometry before ICI therapy, and before the first evaluation. In the ICI cohort, patients were randomly divided into training (n = 91) and validation (n = 29) cohorts. Machine learning algorithms were applied to construct the prognostic and predictive immune-related models. RESULTS Using the training cohort, a peripheral blood immune cell-based signature (BICS) based on four hub PBIMs was developed. In both the training and the validation cohorts, and the whole cohort, the BICS achieved a high accuracy for predicting overall survival (OS) benefit. The high-BICS group had significantly shorter progression-free survival and OS than the low-BICS group. The BICS demonstrated the predictive ability of patients to achieve durable clinical outcomes. By integrating these PBIMs, we further constructed and validated the support vector machine-recursive and feature elimination classifier model, which robustly predicts patients who will achieve optimal clinical benefit. CONCLUSIONS Dynamic PBIM-based monitoring as a noninvasive, cost-effective, highly specific and sensitive biomarker has broad potential for prognostic and predictive utility in patients receiving ICI therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Wei
- grid.414008.90000 0004 1799 4638Department of Internal Medicine, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, 127 Dongming Road, Zhengzhou, 450008 Henan China
| | - Mengyu Wang
- grid.414008.90000 0004 1799 4638Department of Internal Medicine, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, 127 Dongming Road, Zhengzhou, 450008 Henan China
| | - Quanli Gao
- grid.414008.90000 0004 1799 4638Department of Internal Medicine, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, 127 Dongming Road, Zhengzhou, 450008 Henan China ,grid.414008.90000 0004 1799 4638Department of Immunotherapy, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, 127 Dongming Road, Zhengzhou, 450008 Henan China
| | - Shasha Yuan
- grid.414008.90000 0004 1799 4638Department of Internal Medicine, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, 127 Dongming Road, Zhengzhou, 450008 Henan China
| | - Wenying Deng
- grid.414008.90000 0004 1799 4638Department of Internal Medicine, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, 127 Dongming Road, Zhengzhou, 450008 Henan China
| | - Liangyu Bie
- grid.414008.90000 0004 1799 4638Department of Internal Medicine, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, 127 Dongming Road, Zhengzhou, 450008 Henan China
| | - Yijie Ma
- grid.414008.90000 0004 1799 4638Department of Internal Medicine, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, 127 Dongming Road, Zhengzhou, 450008 Henan China
| | - Chi Zhang
- grid.414008.90000 0004 1799 4638Department of Internal Medicine, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, 127 Dongming Road, Zhengzhou, 450008 Henan China
| | - Shuyi Li
- grid.414008.90000 0004 1799 4638Department of Internal Medicine, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, 127 Dongming Road, Zhengzhou, 450008 Henan China
| | - Suxia Luo
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, 127 Dongming Road, Zhengzhou, 450008, Henan, China.
| | - Ning Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, 127 Dongming Road, Zhengzhou, 450008, Henan, China.
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10
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Lo Russo G, Sgambelluri F, Prelaj A, Galli F, Manglaviti S, Bottiglieri A, Di Mauro R, Ferrara R, Galli G, Signorelli D, De Toma A, Occhipinti M, Brambilla M, Rulli E, Triulzi T, Torelli T, Agnelli L, Brich S, Martinetti A, Dumitrascu A, Torri V, Pruneri G, Fabbri A, de Braud F, Anichini A, Proto C, Ganzinelli M, Mortarini R, Garassino M. PEOPLE (NCT03447678), a first-line phase II pembrolizumab trial, in negative and low PD-L1 advanced NSCLC: clinical outcomes and association with circulating immune biomarkers. ESMO Open 2022; 7:100645. [PMID: 36455507 PMCID: PMC9808469 DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2022.100645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The PEOPLE trial aimed to identify new immune biomarkers in negative and low programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) (0%-49%) advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) patients treated with first-line pembrolizumab. Here we report the main outcomes and the circulating immune biomarkers analysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS The primary endpoint of this phase II trial was the identification of immune biomarkers associated with progression-free survival (PFS). Overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), duration of response (DoR) and safety were secondary endpoints. Absolute cell counts for 36 subsets belonging to innate and adaptive immunity were determined by multiparametric flow cytometry in peripheral blood at baseline and at first radiologic evaluation. An orthoblique principal components-based clustering approach and multivariable Cox regression model adjusted for clinical variables were used to analyze immune variables and their correlation with clinical endpoints. RESULTS From May 2018 to October 2020, 65 patients were enrolled. After a median follow-up of 26.4 months, the median PFS was 2.9 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8-5.6 months] and median OS was 12.1 months (95% CI 8.7-17.1 months). The ORR was 21.5%, DCR was 47.7% and median DoR was 14.5 months (95% CI 6.4-24.9 months). Drug-related grade 3-4 adverse events were 9.2%. Higher T cell and natural killer (NK) cell count at baseline and at the first radiologic evaluation were associated with improved PFS, DCR and OS. On the contrary, higher myeloid cell count at baseline or at the first radiologic evaluation was significantly associated with worse OS and DCR. CONCLUSIONS Circulating immune biomarkers can contribute to predict outcomes in negative and low PD-L1 aNSCLC patients treated with first-line single-agent pembrolizumab.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Lo Russo
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy,Correspondence to: Dr Giuseppe Lo Russo Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, via Giacomo Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy. Tel: +39-0223903829
| | - F. Sgambelluri
- Department of Research, Human Tumors Immunobiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - A. Prelaj
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy,Department of Electronics, Information, and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - F. Galli
- Oncology Department, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - S. Manglaviti
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - A. Bottiglieri
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - R.M. Di Mauro
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - R. Ferrara
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - G. Galli
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy,Medical Oncology, Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - D. Signorelli
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy,Medical Oncology, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - A. De Toma
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - M. Occhipinti
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - M. Brambilla
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - E. Rulli
- Oncology Department, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - T. Triulzi
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - T. Torelli
- Department of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - L. Agnelli
- Department of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy,Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - S. Brich
- Department of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - A. Martinetti
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - A.D. Dumitrascu
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - V. Torri
- Oncology Department, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - G. Pruneri
- Department of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy,Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - A. Fabbri
- Department of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - F. de Braud
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy,Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - A. Anichini
- Department of Research, Human Tumors Immunobiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - C. Proto
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - M. Ganzinelli
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - R. Mortarini
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - M.C. Garassino
- Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Milan, Italy,Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Chicago, Chicago, USA
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11
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Ma X, Chan TA. Solving the puzzle of what makes immunotherapies work. Trends Cancer 2022; 8:890-900. [PMID: 35933298 PMCID: PMC10109520 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2022.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The rapid adoption of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies has led to a need to understand the mechanistic drivers of efficacy and the identification of novel biomarkers that enrich for patients who benefit from ICB therapy. Here, we provide a perspective on emerging biomarker candidates, their underlying biological mechanisms, and how they may fit into the current landscape of ICB biomarkers. We discuss new frameworks to identify and evaluate biomarker candidates and review the opportunities and challenges of utilizing biomarker-derived models to facilitate the development of new immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Ma
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Timothy A Chan
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Case Western School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
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12
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Peters BA, Pass HI, Burk RD, Xue X, Goparaju C, Sollecito CC, Grassi E, Segal LN, Tsay JCJ, Hayes RB, Ahn J. The lung microbiome, peripheral gene expression, and recurrence-free survival after resection of stage II non-small cell lung cancer. Genome Med 2022; 14:121. [PMID: 36303210 PMCID: PMC9609265 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-022-01126-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer recurrence after tumor resection in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is common, yet difficult to predict. The lung microbiota and systemic immunity may be important modulators of risk for lung cancer recurrence, yet biomarkers from the lung microbiome and peripheral immune environment are understudied. Such markers may hold promise for prediction as well as improved etiologic understanding of lung cancer recurrence. METHODS In tumor and distant normal lung samples from 46 stage II NSCLC patients with curative resection (39 tumor samples, 41 normal lung samples), we conducted 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We also measured peripheral blood immune gene expression with nanoString®. We examined associations of lung microbiota and peripheral gene expression with recurrence-free survival (RFS) and disease-free survival (DFS) using 500 × 10-fold cross-validated elastic-net penalized Cox regression, and examined predictive accuracy using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS Over a median of 4.8 years of follow-up (range 0.2-12.2 years), 43% of patients experienced a recurrence, and 50% died. In normal lung tissue, a higher abundance of classes Bacteroidia and Clostridia, and orders Bacteroidales and Clostridiales, were associated with worse RFS, while a higher abundance of classes Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria, and orders Burkholderiales and Neisseriales, were associated with better RFS. In tumor tissue, a higher abundance of orders Actinomycetales and Pseudomonadales were associated with worse DFS. Among these taxa, normal lung Clostridiales and Bacteroidales were also related to worse survival in a previous small pilot study and an additional independent validation cohort. In peripheral blood, higher expression of genes TAP1, TAPBP, CSF2RB, and IFITM2 were associated with better DFS. Analysis of ROC curves revealed that lung microbiome and peripheral gene expression biomarkers provided significant additional recurrence risk discrimination over standard demographic and clinical covariates, with microbiome biomarkers contributing more to short-term (1-year) prediction and gene biomarkers contributing to longer-term (2-5-year) prediction. CONCLUSIONS We identified compelling biomarkers in under-explored data types, the lung microbiome, and peripheral blood gene expression, which may improve risk prediction of recurrence in early-stage NSCLC patients. These findings will require validation in a larger cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandilyn A Peters
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, #1315AB, The Bronx, New York, NY, 10461, USA.
| | - Harvey I Pass
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
- NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert D Burk
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, #1315AB, The Bronx, New York, NY, 10461, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, The Bronx, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, and Obstetrics & Gynecology & Women's Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, The Bronx, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xiaonan Xue
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, #1315AB, The Bronx, New York, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Chandra Goparaju
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Evan Grassi
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, The Bronx, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Richard B Hayes
- NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Population Health, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jiyoung Ahn
- NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Population Health, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
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13
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Musaelyan A, Lapin S, Urtenova M, Odintsova S, Chistyakov I, Ulitin A, Akopov A, Orlov S. Inflammatory and autoimmune predictive markers of response to anti‑PD‑1/PD‑L1 therapy in NSCLC and melanoma. Exp Ther Med 2022; 24:557. [PMID: 35978940 PMCID: PMC9366266 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2022.11495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are a standard in cancer therapy, but few patients respond to the treatment. The aim of the present study was the determination of immunological markers for monitoring response to ICI. The present study included 74 patients receiving ICI in subsequent [group 1; non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)] and first-line setting (group 2; melanoma) and 30 patients with NSCLC receiving first-line chemotherapy. In groups 1 and 2 β-2 microglobulin (B2-MG), neopterin (NPT), IL-6, IL-18, HLA-DRB1 and autoantibodies were assessed after two months of ICI, and before the start of next administration in group 3. In group 1 low level of B2-MG (P<0.0001), NPT (P<0.0001), IL-6 (P<0.0001), IL-18 (P=0.0003), HLA-DRB1*03 (P=0.016) and anti-TPO antibodies (P=0.016) were associated with response >six months. In group 2 high level of B2-MG (P=0.0001), NPT (P=0.0016), IL-6 (P=0.013) and IL-18 (P=0.032) were associated with early disease progression (<six months). Univariate analysis demonstrated that immune-related adverse events were predictive marker of prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) in group 1 (P=0.038) and 2 (P=0.020). Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio ≥5 before immunotherapy was correlated with shorter PFS in melanoma in multivariate analysis (P=0.007). B2-MG ≥2.5 mg/ml (P=0.006) and NPT ≥12 nmol/l (P=0.027) were predictors of shorter PFS in group 1. B2-MG ≥2.5 mg/ml was predictor of shorter PFS (P=0.008) in group 2. In group 1 levels of B2-MG, NPT, IL-6 and IL-18 were higher than in group 3. In summary, immunological markers are promising predictive markers for immunotherapy; however, it requires further prospective studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aram Musaelyan
- Laboratory for Diagnostics of Autoimmune Diseases, Center for Molecular Medicine, Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University, Saint Petersburg 197022, Russia
| | - Sergey Lapin
- Laboratory for Diagnostics of Autoimmune Diseases, Center for Molecular Medicine, Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University, Saint Petersburg 197022, Russia
| | - Margarita Urtenova
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University, Saint Petersburg 197022, Russia
| | - Svetlana Odintsova
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University, Saint Petersburg 197022, Russia
| | - Ivan Chistyakov
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University, Saint Petersburg 197022, Russia
| | - Andrey Ulitin
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University, Saint Petersburg 197022, Russia
| | - Andrey Akopov
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University, Saint Petersburg 197022, Russia
| | - Sergey Orlov
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University, Saint Petersburg 197022, Russia
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14
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Alfranca YL, García MEO, Rueda AG, Ballesteros PÁ, Rodríguez DR, Velasco MT. Blood Biomarkers of Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11113245. [PMID: 35683629 PMCID: PMC9181575 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11113245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment landscape of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), either used in monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy. While some patients achieve durable responses, some will not get benefit from this treatment. Early identification of non- responder patients could avoid unnecessary treatment, potentially serious immune-related adverse events and reduce treatment costs. PD-L1 expression using immunohistochemistry is the only approved biomarker for the selection of patients that can benefit from immunotherapy. However, application of PD-L1 as a biomarker of treatment efficacy shows many deficiencies probably due to the complexity of the tumor microenvironment and the technical limitations of the samples. Thus, there is an urgent need to find other biomarkers, ideally blood biomarkers to help us to identify different subgroups of patients in a minimal invasive way. In this review, we summarize the emerging blood-based markers that could help to predict the response to ICIs in NSCLC.
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15
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Fatima S, Ma Y, Safrachi A, Haider S, Spring KJ, Vafaee F, Scott KF, Roberts TL, Becker TM, de Souza P. Harnessing Liquid Biopsies to Guide Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:1669. [PMID: 35406441 PMCID: PMC8997025 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14071669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy (IO), involving the use of immune checkpoint inhibition, achieves improved response-rates and significant disease-free survival for some cancer patients. Despite these beneficial effects, there is poor predictability of response and substantial rates of innate or acquired resistance, resulting in heterogeneous responses among patients. In addition, patients can develop life-threatening adverse events, and while these generally occur in patients that also show a tumor response, these outcomes are not always congruent. Therefore, predicting a response to IO is of paramount importance. Traditionally, tumor tissue analysis has been used for this purpose. However, minimally invasive liquid biopsies that monitor changes in blood or other bodily fluid markers are emerging as a promising cost-effective alternative. Traditional biomarkers have limitations mainly due to difficulty in repeatedly obtaining tumor tissue confounded also by the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of tumours. Liquid biopsy has the potential to circumvent tumor heterogeneity and to help identifying patients who may respond to IO, to monitor the treatment dynamically, as well as to unravel the mechanisms of relapse. We present here a review of the current status of molecular markers for the prediction and monitoring of IO response, focusing on the detection of these markers in liquid biopsies. With the emerging improvements in the field of liquid biopsy, this approach has the capacity to identify IO-eligible patients and provide clinically relevant information to assist with their ongoing disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shadma Fatima
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia; (Y.M.); (S.H.); (K.J.S.); (K.F.S.); (T.L.R.); (T.M.B.); (P.d.S.)
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia; (A.S.); (F.V.)
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
| | - Yafeng Ma
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia; (Y.M.); (S.H.); (K.J.S.); (K.F.S.); (T.L.R.); (T.M.B.); (P.d.S.)
- South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia
- Centre for Circulating Tumor Cell Diagnosis and Research, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
| | - Azadeh Safrachi
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia; (A.S.); (F.V.)
| | - Sana Haider
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia; (Y.M.); (S.H.); (K.J.S.); (K.F.S.); (T.L.R.); (T.M.B.); (P.d.S.)
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
| | - Kevin J. Spring
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia; (Y.M.); (S.H.); (K.J.S.); (K.F.S.); (T.L.R.); (T.M.B.); (P.d.S.)
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
| | - Fatemeh Vafaee
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia; (A.S.); (F.V.)
- UNSW Data Science Hub, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Kieran F. Scott
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia; (Y.M.); (S.H.); (K.J.S.); (K.F.S.); (T.L.R.); (T.M.B.); (P.d.S.)
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
| | - Tara L. Roberts
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia; (Y.M.); (S.H.); (K.J.S.); (K.F.S.); (T.L.R.); (T.M.B.); (P.d.S.)
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
- South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Therese M. Becker
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia; (Y.M.); (S.H.); (K.J.S.); (K.F.S.); (T.L.R.); (T.M.B.); (P.d.S.)
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
- South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia
- Centre for Circulating Tumor Cell Diagnosis and Research, Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia
| | - Paul de Souza
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia; (Y.M.); (S.H.); (K.J.S.); (K.F.S.); (T.L.R.); (T.M.B.); (P.d.S.)
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
- South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia
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16
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Comprehensive Statistical Exploration of Prognostic (Bio-)Markers for Responses to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 14:cancers14010075. [PMID: 35008239 PMCID: PMC8750624 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) may suffer from heavy side effects, and not all patients benefit from the treatment. Therefore, it is crucial to gain knowledge about possible (bio-)markers for response to ICIs. We used retrospective data acquired from NSCLC patients treated with ICIs in first- or further-line therapy settings, including 16 possible markers. We conducted a comprehensive statistical analysis study to find markers for response to treatment, assessed the robustness of our results, and discussed often encountered statistical pitfalls. Our study yielded hypotheses for various predictive and prognostic (bio-)markers for response to ICIs in NSCLC patients. In particular, we found that high basophil counts may be predictive for treatment response in patients in further-line therapy settings. Abstract Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) may suffer from heavy side effects and not all patients benefit from the treatment. We conducted a comprehensive statistical analysis to identify promising (bio-)markers for treatment response. We analyzed retrospective data from NSCLC patients treated with ICIs in first- or further-line therapy settings at the University Hospital Zurich. We investigated 16 possible prognostic markers with respect to overall survival, tumor size reduction, and the development of an immune-related adverse event (irAE) and assessed the robustness of our results. For the further-line patient group, the most significant result was that increased basophil counts were associated with increased odds of tumor size reduction within three months and with the development of an irAE. For the first-line patient group, the most significant results were that increased lymphocyte counts, the histology of adenocarcinoma, and the intake of non-steroidal anti-rheumatic drugs (NSAR) were associated with decreased hazards of dying. Our study yielded new hypotheses for predictive (bio-)markers for response to ICIs in NSCLC patients. The possibly beneficial role of high basophil counts is a particularly interesting finding. Our results should be tested on independent data in a prospective fashion.
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Casarrubios M, Cruz-Bermúdez A, Nadal E, Insa A, García Campelo MDR, Lázaro M, Dómine M, Majem M, Rodríguez-Abreu D, Martínez-Martí A, de Castro-Carpeño J, Cobo M, López-Vivanco G, Del Barco E, Bernabé Caro R, Viñolas N, Barneto Aranda I, Viteri S, Massuti B, Barquín M, Laza-Briviesca R, Sierra-Rodero B, Parra ER, Sanchez-Espiridion B, Rocha P, Kadara H, Wistuba II, Romero A, Calvo V, Provencio M. Pretreatment Tissue TCR Repertoire Evenness Is Associated with Complete Pathologic Response in Patients with NSCLC Receiving Neoadjuvant Chemoimmunotherapy. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:5878-5890. [PMID: 34376534 PMCID: PMC9401519 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-1200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Characterization of the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire may be a promising source for predictive biomarkers of pathologic response to immunotherapy in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN In this study, next-generation TCR sequencing was performed in peripheral blood and tissue samples of 40 patients with NSCLC, before and after neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy (NADIM clinical trial, NCT03081689), considering their complete pathologic response (CPR) or non-CPR. Beyond TCR metrics, tissue clones were ranked by their frequency and spatiotemporal evolution of top 1% clones was determined. RESULTS We have found a positive association between an uneven TCR repertoire in tissue samples at diagnosis and CPR at surgery. Moreover, TCR most frequently ranked clones (top 1%) present in diagnostic biopsies occupied greater frequency in the total clonal space of CPR patients, achieving an AUC ROC to identify CPR patients of 0.967 (95% confidence interval, 0.897-1.000; P = 0.001), and improving the results of PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS; AUC = 0.767; P = 0.026) or tumor mutational burden (TMB; AUC = 0.550; P = 0.687). Furthermore, tumors with high pretreatment top 1% clonal space showed similar immune cell populations but a higher immune reactive gene expression profile. Finally, the selective expansion of pretreatment tissue top 1% clones in peripheral blood of CPR patients suggests also a peripheral immunosurveillance, which could explain the high survival rate of these patients. CONCLUSIONS We have identified two parameters derived from TCR repertoire analysis that could outperform PD-L1 TPS and TMB as predictive biomarkers of CPR after neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy, and unraveled possible mechanisms of CPR involving enhanced tumor immunogenicity and peripheral immunosurveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Casarrubios
- Servicio de Oncología Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro-Segovia de Arana (IDIPHISA), Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Cruz-Bermúdez
- Servicio de Oncología Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro-Segovia de Arana (IDIPHISA), Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.,Corresponding Authors: Alberto Cruz-Bermúdez, Servicio de Oncología Médica, Instituto de Investigación, Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Madrid 28222, Spain. E-mail: ; and Mariano Provencio,
| | - Ernest Nadal
- Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, L'Hospitalet De Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Amelia Insa
- Fundación INCLIVA, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | | | | | - Manuel Dómine
- Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Alex Martínez-Martí
- Hospital Universitario e Instituto de Oncología Vall d'Hebron (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Manuel Cobo
- Hospital Universitario Regional de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Santiago Viteri
- Instituto Oncológico Dr. Rosell. Hospital Universitario Quiron Dexeus, Grupo QuironSalud, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Miguel Barquín
- Servicio de Oncología Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro-Segovia de Arana (IDIPHISA), Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Laza-Briviesca
- Servicio de Oncología Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro-Segovia de Arana (IDIPHISA), Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Belén Sierra-Rodero
- Servicio de Oncología Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro-Segovia de Arana (IDIPHISA), Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Edwin R. Parra
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Beatriz Sanchez-Espiridion
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Pedro Rocha
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Humam Kadara
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Ignacio I. Wistuba
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Atocha Romero
- Servicio de Oncología Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro-Segovia de Arana (IDIPHISA), Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Virginia Calvo
- Servicio de Oncología Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro-Segovia de Arana (IDIPHISA), Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mariano Provencio
- Servicio de Oncología Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro-Segovia de Arana (IDIPHISA), Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.,Corresponding Authors: Alberto Cruz-Bermúdez, Servicio de Oncología Médica, Instituto de Investigación, Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Madrid 28222, Spain. E-mail: ; and Mariano Provencio,
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Jensen C, Nissen NI, Von Arenstorff CS, Karsdal MA, Willumsen N. Serological assessment of collagen fragments and tumor fibrosis may guide immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2021; 40:326. [PMID: 34656158 PMCID: PMC8520279 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-02133-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Despite the overall clinical success of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for treating patients with solid tumors, a large number of patients do not benefit from this approach. Consequently, there is a need for predictive biomarkers. The most prevalent biomarkers such as PD-L1 expression and tumor mutational burden (TMB) do not reliably predict response to ICIs across different solid tumor types suggesting that a broader view of regulating factors in the tumor microenvironment is needed. Emerging evidence indicates that one central common denominator of resistance to ICIs may be fibrotic activity characterized by extracellular matrix (ECM) and collagen production by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). A fibroblast-and collagen-rich stroma attenuates immunotherapy response by contributing to inhibition and exclusion of T cells. Here we review opportunities and limitations in the utilization of the most prevalent biomarkers for ICIs and elaborate on the unique opportunities with biomarkers originating from the activated fibroblasts producing an impermeable ECM. We propose that ECM and collagen biomarkers measured non-invasively may be a novel and practical approach to optimize treatment strategies and improve patient selection for ICI therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Jensen
- Biomarkers & Research, Nordic Bioscience, 2730, Herlev, Denmark.
| | - Neel I Nissen
- Biomarkers & Research, Nordic Bioscience, 2730, Herlev, Denmark
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Honrubia-Peris B, Garde-Noguera J, García-Sánchez J, Piera-Molons N, Llombart-Cussac A, Fernández-Murga ML. Soluble Biomarkers with Prognostic and Predictive Value in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13174280. [PMID: 34503087 PMCID: PMC8428366 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13174280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Immunotherapy, most notably immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has revolutionized the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although some patients respond well to ICIs, many patients do not benefit from ICIs, leading to disease progression and/or immune-related adverse events. Biological markers can help to improve patient selection. However, currently available markers such as PD-1 and its ligand (PD-L1) have important limitations. For this reason, new biomarkers obtained by non-invasive methods are urgently needed. In the present review, we describe recent advances in the development of novel soluble biological markers (e.g., circulating immune cells, TMB, circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA, soluble factor PD-L1, tumor necrosis factor, etc.) for patients with NSCLC treated with immunotherapy. Abstract Numerous targeted therapies have been evaluated for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To date, however, only a few agents have shown promising results. Recent advances in cancer immunotherapy, most notably immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), have transformed the treatment scenario for these patients. Although some patients respond well to ICIs, many patients do not benefit from ICIs, leading to disease progression and/or immune-related adverse events. New biomarkers capable of reliably predicting response to ICIs are urgently needed to improve patient selection. Currently available biomarkers—including programmed death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1), and tumor mutational burden (TMB)—have major limitations. At present, no well-validated, reliable biomarkers are available. Ideally, these biomarkers would be obtained through less invasive methods such as plasma determination or liquid biopsy. In the present review, we describe recent advances in the development of novel soluble biomarkers (e.g., circulating immune cells, TMB, circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA, soluble factor PD-L1, tumor necrosis factor, etc.) for patients with NSCLC treated with ICIs. We also describe the potential use of these biomarkers as prognostic indicators of treatment response and toxicity.
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Siemiątkowska A, Bryl M, Kosicka-Noworzyń K, Tvrdoň J, Gołda-Gocka I, Barinow-Wojewódzki A, Główka FK. Serum sCD25 Protein as a Predictor of Lack of Long-Term Benefits from Immunotherapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Pilot Study. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13153702. [PMID: 34359602 PMCID: PMC8345204 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13153702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Prognosis of advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is poor. Even though it can improve with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agents, most patients do not respond to treatment. We hypothesized that the serum soluble form of the unit α of the interleukin-2 receptor (sCD25) could be used as a biomarker of successful immunotherapy in NSCLC. We recruited patients dosed with atezolizumab (n = 42) or pembrolizumab (n = 20) and collected samples at baseline and during the treatment. Levels of sCD25 were quantified with the ELISA kits. Patients with a high sCD25 at baseline (sCD25.0 ≥ 5.99 ng/mL) or/and at the end of the fourth treatment cycle (sCD25.4 ≥ 7.73 ng/mL) progressed faster and lived shorter without the disease progression and serious toxicity. None of the patients with high sCD25 at both time points continued therapy longer than 9.3 months, while almost 40% of patients with low sCD25 were treated for ≥12.3 months. There was a 6.3-times higher incidence of treatment failure (HR = 6.33, 95% CI: 2.10-19.06, p = 0.001) and a 6.5-times higher incidence of progression (HR = 6.50, 95% CI: 2.04-20.73, p = 0.002) in patients with high compared with low sCD25.0 and sCD25.4. Serum levels of sCD25 may serve as a non-invasive biomarker of long-term benefits from the anti-PD-1/PD-L1s in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Siemiątkowska
- Department of Physical Pharmacy and Pharmacokinetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6 Święcickiego Street, 60-781 Poznań, Poland; (K.K.-N.); (J.T.); (F.K.G.)
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 160 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Translational Research and Education, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 160 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Maciej Bryl
- Department of Clinical Oncology with the Subdepartment of Diurnal Chemotherapy, Wielkopolska Center of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery, 62 Szamarzewskiego Street, 60-569 Poznań, Poland; (M.B.); (I.G.-G.); (A.B.-W.)
| | - Katarzyna Kosicka-Noworzyń
- Department of Physical Pharmacy and Pharmacokinetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6 Święcickiego Street, 60-781 Poznań, Poland; (K.K.-N.); (J.T.); (F.K.G.)
| | - Jakub Tvrdoň
- Department of Physical Pharmacy and Pharmacokinetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6 Święcickiego Street, 60-781 Poznań, Poland; (K.K.-N.); (J.T.); (F.K.G.)
| | - Iwona Gołda-Gocka
- Department of Clinical Oncology with the Subdepartment of Diurnal Chemotherapy, Wielkopolska Center of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery, 62 Szamarzewskiego Street, 60-569 Poznań, Poland; (M.B.); (I.G.-G.); (A.B.-W.)
| | - Aleksander Barinow-Wojewódzki
- Department of Clinical Oncology with the Subdepartment of Diurnal Chemotherapy, Wielkopolska Center of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery, 62 Szamarzewskiego Street, 60-569 Poznań, Poland; (M.B.); (I.G.-G.); (A.B.-W.)
| | - Franciszek K. Główka
- Department of Physical Pharmacy and Pharmacokinetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6 Święcickiego Street, 60-781 Poznań, Poland; (K.K.-N.); (J.T.); (F.K.G.)
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Laza‐Briviesca R, Cruz‐Bermúdez A, Nadal E, Insa A, García‐Campelo MDR, Huidobro G, Dómine M, Majem M, Rodríguez‐Abreu D, Martínez‐Martí A, De Castro Carpeño J, Cobo M, López Vivanco G, Del Barco E, Bernabé Caro R, Viñolas N, Barneto Aranda I, Viteri S, Massuti B, Casarrubios M, Sierra‐Rodero B, Tarín C, García‐Grande A, Haymaker C, Wistuba II, Romero A, Franco F, Provencio M. Blood biomarkers associated to complete pathological response on NSCLC patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy included in NADIM clinical trial. Clin Transl Med 2021; 11:e491. [PMID: 34323406 PMCID: PMC8288017 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunotherapy is being tested in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and achieving higher rates of complete pathological responses (CPR) as compared to standard of care. Early identification of CPR patients has vital clinical implications. In this study, we focused on basal peripheral immune cells and their treatment-related changes to find biomarkers associated to CPR. METHODS Blood from 29 stage IIIA NSCLC patients participating in the NADIM trial (NCT03081689) was collected at diagnosis and post neoadjuvant treatment. More than 400 parameters of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) phenotype and plasma soluble factors were analyzed. RESULTS Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy altered more than 150 immune parameters. At diagnosis, 11 biomarkers associated to CPR were described, with an area under the ROC curve >0.70 and p-value <.05. CPR patients had significantly higher levels of CD4+ PD-1+ cells, NKG2D, and CD56 expression on T CD56 cells, intensity of CD25 expression on CD4+ CD25hi+ cells and CD69 expression on intermediate monocytes; but lower levels of CD3+ CD56- CTLA-4+ cells, CD14++ CD16+ CTLA-4+ cells, CTLA-4 expression on T CD56 cells and lower levels of b-NGF, NT-3, and VEGF-D in plasma compared to non-CPR. Post treatment, CPR patients had significantly higher levels of CD19 expression on B cells, BCMA, 4-1BB, MCSF, and PARC and lower levels of MPIF-1 and Flt-3L in plasma compared to non-CPR. CONCLUSIONS Patients achieving CPR seem to have a distinctive peripheral blood immune status at diagnosis, even showing different immune response to treatment. These results reinforce the different biology behind CPR and non-CPR responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Laza‐Briviesca
- Servicio de Oncología Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro‐Segovia de Arana (IDIPHISA)Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro‐MajadahondaMadridSpain
- Doctoral SchoolUniversidad Autónoma de MadridMadridSpain
| | - Alberto Cruz‐Bermúdez
- Servicio de Oncología Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro‐Segovia de Arana (IDIPHISA)Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro‐MajadahondaMadridSpain
| | - Ernest Nadal
- Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet De LlobregatBarcelonaSpain
| | - Amelia Insa
- Fundación INCLIVAHospital Clínico Universitario de ValenciaValenciaSpain
| | | | | | - Manuel Dómine
- Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez DíazMadridSpain
| | | | | | - Alex Martínez‐Martí
- Hospital Universitario e Instituto de Oncología Vall d´Hebron (VHIO)BarcelonaSpain
| | | | - Manuel Cobo
- Hospital Universitario Regional de MálagaMálagaSpain
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Santiago Viteri
- Instituto Oncológico Dr. Rosell, Hospital Universitario Quiron DexeusGrupo QuironSaludBarcelonaSpain
| | | | - Marta Casarrubios
- Servicio de Oncología Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro‐Segovia de Arana (IDIPHISA)Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro‐MajadahondaMadridSpain
- Doctoral SchoolUniversidad Autónoma de MadridMadridSpain
| | - Belén Sierra‐Rodero
- Servicio de Oncología Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro‐Segovia de Arana (IDIPHISA)Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro‐MajadahondaMadridSpain
- Doctoral SchoolUniversidad Autónoma de MadridMadridSpain
| | - Carlos Tarín
- Bioinformatics UnitInstituto de Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro‐Segovia de AranaMadridSpain
| | - Aránzazu García‐Grande
- Flow Cytometry Core FacilityInstituto de Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro‐Segovia de Arana (IDIPHISA)MadridSpain
| | - Cara Haymaker
- Departments of Translational Molecular PathologyThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Ignacio I. Wistuba
- Departments of Translational Molecular PathologyThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Atocha Romero
- Servicio de Oncología Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro‐Segovia de Arana (IDIPHISA)Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro‐MajadahondaMadridSpain
| | - Fernando Franco
- Servicio de Oncología Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro‐Segovia de Arana (IDIPHISA)Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro‐MajadahondaMadridSpain
| | - Mariano Provencio
- Servicio de Oncología Médica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro‐Segovia de Arana (IDIPHISA)Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro‐MajadahondaMadridSpain
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De Keukeleire SJ, Vermassen T, Hilgert E, Creytens D, Ferdinande L, Rottey S. Immuno-Oncological Biomarkers for Squamous Cell Cancer of the Head and Neck: Current State of the Art and Future Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1714. [PMID: 33916646 PMCID: PMC8038541 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The era of immune checkpoint inhibitors has altered the therapeutic landscape in squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCCHN). Our knowledge about the tumor microenvironment has fueled the research in SCCHN, leading to several well-known and less-known prognostic and predictive biomarkers. The clinical staging, p16/HPV status, and PD-L1 expression are currently the main tools for assessing the patients' diagnosis and prognosis. However, several novel biomarkers have been thoroughly investigated, some reaching actual significant clinical contributions. The untangling of the immune infiltrate with the subtyping of tissue-associated tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, tumor-associated macrophages, and circulating blood-based biomarkers are an interesting avenue to be further explored and prospectively assessed. Although PD-L1 expression remains the most important response predictor for immune checkpoint inhibitors, several flaws impede proper assessment such as technical issues, different scoring protocol, and intra-, inter-, and temporal heterogeneity. In addition, the construction of an immune-related gene panel has been proposed as a prognostic and predictive stratification but lacks consensus. Recently, the role of microbioma have also been explored regarding its systemic and antitumor immunity. This review gives a comprehensive overview of the aforementioned topics in SCCHN. To this end, the integration of these clinically advantageous biomarkers via construction of an immunogram or nomogram could be an invaluable tool for SCCHN in future prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stijn J. De Keukeleire
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (T.V.); (S.R.)
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (E.H.); (D.C.); (L.F.)
- Drug Research Unit Ghent, University Hospital Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tijl Vermassen
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (T.V.); (S.R.)
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (E.H.); (D.C.); (L.F.)
- Drug Research Unit Ghent, University Hospital Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Elien Hilgert
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (E.H.); (D.C.); (L.F.)
- Centre for Medical Genetics Ghent (CMGG), University Hospital Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - David Creytens
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (E.H.); (D.C.); (L.F.)
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Ferdinande
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (E.H.); (D.C.); (L.F.)
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sylvie Rottey
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (T.V.); (S.R.)
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (E.H.); (D.C.); (L.F.)
- Drug Research Unit Ghent, University Hospital Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Clinical Activity of an hTERT-Specific Cancer Vaccine (Vx-001) in "Immune Desert" NSCLC. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13071658. [PMID: 33916194 PMCID: PMC8037524 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary We investigated whether there is any correlation between Vx-001 clinical activity and the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Our hypothesis was that Vx-001 should be clinically effective in patients with tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) negative/low infiltrated (non-immunogenic/cold) tumors which are lacking immunosuppressive TIME but not in highly TIL infiltrated (immunogenic/hot) tumors associated with immunosuppressive TIME. In this study, we show that the tumor vaccine Vx-001 offers a clinical benefit in patients with tumors lacking or weakly infiltrated with TILs. In contrast, Vx-001 is completely inactive in the context of tumors highly infiltrated with TILs, thus confirming our hypothesis. TIL negative/low tumor signature is an independent predictive factor of Vx-001 efficacy. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing an inverse correlation between tumor vaccine efficacy and the presence of TILs. These data support the selection of patients with TIL negative or low infiltrated tumors (i.e., patients known to be resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and with poor prognosis) as the best candidates to receive tumor vaccines and to get a clinical benefit from vaccination. Abstract Background: Tumors can be separated into immunogenic/hot and non-immunogenic/cold on the basis of the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), the expression of PD-L1 and the tumor mutation burden (TMB). In immunogenic tumors, TILs become unable to control tumor growth because their activity is suppressed by different inhibitory pathways, including PD-1/PD-L1. We hypothesized that tumor vaccines may not be active in the immunosuppressive microenvironment of immunogenic/hot tumors while they could be efficient in the immune naïve microenvironment of non-immunogenic/cold tumors. Methods: The randomized phase II Vx-001-201 study investigated the effect of the Vx-001 vaccine as maintenance treatment in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Biopsies from 131 (68 placebo and 63 Vx-001) patients were retrospectively analyzed for PD-L1 expression and TIL infiltration. TILs were measured as tumor-associated immune cells (TAICs), CD3-TILs, CD8-TILs and granzyme B-producing TILs (GZMB-TILs). Patients were distinguished into PD-L1(+) and PD-L1(-) and into TIL high and TIL low. Findings: There was no correlation between PD-L1 expression and Vx-001 clinical activity. In contrast, Vx-001 showed a significant improvement of overall survival (OS) vs. placebo in TAIC low (21 vs. 8.1 months, p = 0.003, HR = 0.404, 95% CI 0.219–0.745), CD3-TIL low (21.6 vs. 6.6 months, p < 0.001, HR = 0.279, 95% CI 0.131–0.595), CD8-TIL low (21 vs. 6.6 months, p < 0.001; HR = 0.240, 95% CI 0.11–0.522) and GZMB-TIL low (20.7 vs. 11.1 months, p = 0.011, HR = 0.490, 95% CI 0.278–0.863). Vx-001 did not offer any clinical benefit in patients with TAIC high, CD3-TIL high, CD8-TIL high or GZMB-TIL high tumors. CD3-TIL, CD8-TIL and GZMB-TIL were independent predictive factors of Vx-001 efficacy. Conclusions: These results support the hypothesis that Vx-001 may be efficient in patients with non-immunogenic/cold but not with immunogenic/hot tumors.
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Progressive Sarcopenia Correlates with Poor Response and Outcome to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10071361. [PMID: 33806224 PMCID: PMC8036296 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10071361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represent a new therapeutic standard for an increasing number of tumor entities. Nevertheless, individual response and outcome to ICI is very heterogeneous, and the identification of the ideal ICI candidate has remained one of the major issues. Sarcopenia and the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength, as well as muscular fat deposition, have been established as negative prognostic factors for a variety of diseases, but their role in the context of ICI therapy is not fully understood. Here, we have evaluated skeletal muscle composition as a novel prognostic marker in patients undergoing ICI therapy for solid malignancies. METHODS We analyzed patients with metastasized cancers receiving ICI therapy according to the recommendation of the specific tumor board. Routine CT scans before treatment initialization and during ICI therapy were used to assess the skeletal muscle index (L3SMI) as well as the mean skeletal muscle attenuation (MMA) in n = 88 patients receiving ICI therapy. RESULTS While baseline L3SMI and MMA values were unsuitable for predicting the individual response and outcome to ICI therapy, longitudinal changes of the L3SMI and MMA (∆L3SMI, ∆MMA) during ICI therapy turned out to be a relevant marker of therapy response and overall survival. Patients who responded to ICI therapy at three months had a significantly higher ∆L3SMI compared to non-responders (-3.20 mm2/cm vs. 1.73 mm2/cm, p = 0.002). Moreover, overall survival (OS) was significantly lower in patients who had a strongly decreasing ∆L3SMI (<-6.18 mm2/cm) or a strongly decreasing ∆MMA (<-0.4 mm2/cm) during the first three month of ICI therapy. Median OS was only 127 days in patients with a ∆L3SMI of below -6.18 mm2/cm, compared to 547 days in patients with only mildly decreasing or even increasing ∆L3SMI values (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Both progressive sarcopenia and an increasing skeletal muscle fat deposition are associated with poor response and outcome to ICI therapy, which might help to guide treatment decisions during ICI therapy.
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