Jacobo Rogado, Fernando Pozo, Kevin Troule, María Pacheco, Magdalena Adrados, José Miguel Sánchez-Torres, Fátima Al-Shahrour, Javier Aspa, Arantzazu Alfranca, Nuria Romero-Laorden, Ramon Colomer
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) trafficking is regulated by chemokines, which modulate leukocyte migration toward tumors and may collaborate in the efficacy of immunotherapy. In our study, we investigated whether the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis plays a role in the efficacy of immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by analyzing CXCR4 expression for CXCR4 in peripheral blood (PB), and the expression of its ligand CXCL12 in tumor.
Methods: We identified PBMCs expressing CXCR4 using flow cytometry in a prospective cohort of NSCLC patients before starting anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. As a control, we studied patients with advanced cancer before starting any non-immunotherapy treatment. The relative frequency of PBMCs was correlated with treatment outcomes. Uni- and multivariate survival analyses were performed. The expression of CXCL12 in tumor tissue was studied and correlated with the expression of its receptor (CXCR4) in PBMCs.
Results: The experimental group included 39 patients and the control group included 40. Low expression of CXCR4-expressing CD8 + T lymphocytes was correlated with a greater benefit from immunotherapy: median OS NR vs. 22.0 months, HR 0.6, p < 0.01; and median PFS 14.2 vs. 5.0 months, HR 0.38, p = 0.05. These differences were not observed in controls. Low expression in PB of these lymphocytes was correlated with a higher expression of CXCL12 in tumor (trend toward significance: p = 0.14).
Conclusion: Patients diagnosed with advanced NSCLC with low percentage of cytotoxic T lymphocytes expressing CXCR4 in PB, show greater benefit from immunotherapy, probably due to increased tumor infiltration by lymphocytes in response to CXCL12 produced by the tumor.
期刊介绍:
Clinical and Translational Oncology is an international journal devoted to fostering interaction between experimental and clinical oncology. It covers all aspects of research on cancer, from the more basic discoveries dealing with both cell and molecular biology of tumour cells, to the most advanced clinical assays of conventional and new drugs. In addition, the journal has a strong commitment to facilitating the transfer of knowledge from the basic laboratory to the clinical practice, with the publication of educational series devoted to closing the gap between molecular and clinical oncologists. Molecular biology of tumours, identification of new targets for cancer therapy, and new technologies for research and treatment of cancer are the major themes covered by the educational series. Full research articles on a broad spectrum of subjects, including the molecular and cellular bases of disease, aetiology, pathophysiology, pathology, epidemiology, clinical features, and the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of cancer, will be considered for publication.