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31 Dynamic change of PD-L1 expression on extracellular vesicles predicts response to immune-checkpoint inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer patients
<h3>Background</h3> Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC), however, only a small subset of patients derives clinical benefit.<sup>1–3</sup> To date, PD-L1 immunohistochemical evaluation is the gold-standard assay and the only approved biomarker, but associated with several limitations due to technical and biological factors such as spatial and temporal tumor heterogeneity.<sup>4 5</sup> In this context, liquid biopsies emerge as novel powerful tools that could allow the non-invasive real-time characterization of the tumor PD-L1 status. In particular, extracellular vesicles (EVs), defined as cell-derived double-membrane structures involved in cell communication, hold strong potential as tissue surrogates. Recent studies have suggested that EV PD-L1 could stratify melanoma patients receiving ICIs, but none has showed the predictive value of this biomarker in NSCLC patients.<sup>6 7</sup> We hypothesize that EV PD-L1 cargo can serve to stratify the response to ICIs in NSCLC patients. <h3>Methods</h3> This study enrolled advanced/metastatic NSCLC patients receiving ICI treatment. Plasma samples were obtained at baseline (T1) and at 8 weeks (T2) during the first response evaluation. Patients were classified as responders when showing partial, stable or complete response or as non-responders when manifesting progressive disease following RECIST v1.1.<sup>8</sup> Plasma EVs were isolated by standard serial ultracentrifugation methods and characterized according to ISEV recommendations.<sup>9 10</sup> Tissue PD-L1 expression was measured by immunohistochemistry while EV PD-L1 expression was measured by immunoblot. A predictive model was created by logistic-regression and a bootstrap corrected ROC curve to validate the results. <h3>Results</h3> Paired plasma samples from 21 patients were analyzed. PD-L1 tissue expression was not correlated with treatment response (p=0.394) nor matched the baseline EV PD-L1 levels (p=0.337) (figure 1.A). However, the dynamics of EV PD-L1 (T1-T2) correlated with the treatment response, observing an increase of PD-L1 expression in non-responders and a decrease or stable levels in responders (p=0.043) (figure 1.B). The predictive model reported an AUC=0.85, 90% CI=0.72–0.97, with 74.2% sensitivity and 73.5% specificity (figure 1.C). Moreover, the increase of EV PD-L1 was associated with shorter overall survival (HR=4.34, p=0.037) and shorter progression-free survival (HR=5.06, p=0.025) (figure 1 D & E). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Our preliminary-study showed, for the first time, the predictive and prognostic value of EV PD-L1 dynamic changes in immunotherapy-treated NSCLC patients. Although larger studies are needed to validate these results, this promising biomarker could have important clinical implications, guiding treatment decisions in near real-time and improving the outcome of patients that could benefit from ICIs. <h3>Acknowledgements</h3> We would like to extend our gratitude to the all the patients that participated in the study. <h3>Ethics Approval</h3> All patients consented to an Institutional Review Board–approved protocol (A.O. Papardo, Messina, Italy). Biological material was transfer to the University of Maryland, USA under signed MTA between both institutions (MTA/2020-13111). <h3>References</h3> Rittmeyer A, Barlesi F, Waterkamp D, et al. Atezolizumab versus docetaxel in patients with previously treated non-small-cell lung cancer (OAK): a phase 3, open-label, multicentre randomised controlled trial. <i>Lancet</i> 2017;<b>389</b>:255–265. Borghaei H, Paz-Ares L, Horn L, et al. Nivolumab versus Docetaxel in Advanced Nonsquamous Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. <i>N Engl J Med</i> 2015;<b>373</b>:1627–1639. Chen DS, Mellman I: Oncology Meets Immunology: The Cancer-Immunity Cycle. <i>Immunity</i> 2013, <b>39</b>:1–10. Zou WP, Wolchok JD, Chen LP. PD-L1 (B7-H1) and PD-1 pathway blockade for cancer therapy: Mechanisms, response biomarkers, and combinations. <i>Sci Transl Med</i>. 2016; <b>8</b>:328rv4. Patel SP, Kurzrock R. PD-L1 Expression as a predictive biomarker in cancer immunotherapy. <i>Mol Cancer Ther</i> 2015;<b>14</b>:847–56. Cordonnier M, Nardin C, Chanteloup G, et al. Tracking the evolution of circulating exosomal-PD-L1 to monitor melanoma patients. <i>J Extracell Vesicles</i> 2020;<b>9</b>:1710899. Del Re M, Marconcini R, Pasquini G, et al. PD-L1 mRNA expression in plasma-derived exosomes is associated with response to anti-PD-1 antibodies in melanoma and NSCLC. <i>Br J Cancer</i> 2018;<b>118</b>:820–824. Eisenhauer EA, Therasse P, Bogaerts J, <i>et al</i>. New response evaluation criteria in solid tumours: revised RECIST guideline (version 1.1). <i>Eur J Cancer</i> 2009;<b>45</b>:228–47. Reclusa P, Verstraelen P, Taverna S, et al. Improving extracellular vesicles visualization: From static to motion. <i>Sci Rep</i> 2020;10(1):6494. Thery C, Witwer KW, Aikawa E, <i>et al</i>. Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles 2018 (MISEV2018): a position statement of the International Society for extracellular vesicles and update of the MISEV2014 guidelines. <i>J Extracell Vesicles</i> 2018;<b>7</b>:1535750.
Tópico:
Extracellular vesicles in disease
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5
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0
Información de la Fuente:
FuenteRegular and Young Investigator Award Abstracts