{"title":"Combined Chemotherapy-Immunotherapy for Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer (BTC): A Clinical, Genomic, and Biomarker Analysis.","authors":"Yong Zhang, Miaomiao Gou","doi":"10.1007/s12029-025-01215-x","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Biliary tract cancer (BTC) represents a heterogeneous disease spectrum associated with an unfavorable prognosis. A combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy has become a new standard strategy for advanced BTC. However, understanding the association between genomic alterations and outcomes of immunotherapy in BTC is crucial for further improving clinical benefits.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Patients with metastatic BTC were included in this study retrospectively, who received PD-1/PD-L1 (ICI) antibodies combined with chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints included overall response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR). Additionally, we conducted exploratory analysis of genomic alterations and biomarkers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ninety-one patients were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups: albumin paclitaxel + S1 (AS) + PD-1 (n = 56) group and GC + ICI (n = 35) group. There were no significant differences in terms of PFS, ORR, and DCR between the two groups. Regarding biomarker analysis, 44 patients had positive PD-L1 expression, with a mPFS of 4.8 months and an ORR of 15.9%. Surprisingly, 29 patients had negative PD-L1 expression, with a mPFS of 9.9 months and an ORR of 27.6%. The average tumor mutational burden (TMB) was 4.5 mutations per megabase (mut/MB) for patients with microsatellite-stable (MSS) tumors. There was no significant difference in PFS between patients with TMB high and low (cutoff = 4.5 mut/MB). Genomic analysis revealed TP53 (n = 13, 43.3%), KRAS (n = 8, 26.7%), NTRK1/2/3 (n = 8, 26.7%), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1/2 (n = 6, 20.0%), PIK3CA (n = 6, 20.0%), BRCA2 (n = 5, 16.7%), MDM2/4 (n = 5, 16.7%), and BRAF (n = 4, 13.3%) as the most common gene alterations. MDM2/4 mutations were associated with shorter survival (p < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>GC plus immunotherapy is still the standard of care for late stage BTC. PD-L1 expression and TMB were not good predictors for selecting patients who would benefit more from immunotherapy plus chemotherapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":15895,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer","volume":"56 1","pages":"90"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12029-025-01215-x","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"ONCOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Biliary tract cancer (BTC) represents a heterogeneous disease spectrum associated with an unfavorable prognosis. A combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy has become a new standard strategy for advanced BTC. However, understanding the association between genomic alterations and outcomes of immunotherapy in BTC is crucial for further improving clinical benefits.
Method: Patients with metastatic BTC were included in this study retrospectively, who received PD-1/PD-L1 (ICI) antibodies combined with chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints included overall response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR). Additionally, we conducted exploratory analysis of genomic alterations and biomarkers.
Results: Ninety-one patients were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups: albumin paclitaxel + S1 (AS) + PD-1 (n = 56) group and GC + ICI (n = 35) group. There were no significant differences in terms of PFS, ORR, and DCR between the two groups. Regarding biomarker analysis, 44 patients had positive PD-L1 expression, with a mPFS of 4.8 months and an ORR of 15.9%. Surprisingly, 29 patients had negative PD-L1 expression, with a mPFS of 9.9 months and an ORR of 27.6%. The average tumor mutational burden (TMB) was 4.5 mutations per megabase (mut/MB) for patients with microsatellite-stable (MSS) tumors. There was no significant difference in PFS between patients with TMB high and low (cutoff = 4.5 mut/MB). Genomic analysis revealed TP53 (n = 13, 43.3%), KRAS (n = 8, 26.7%), NTRK1/2/3 (n = 8, 26.7%), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1/2 (n = 6, 20.0%), PIK3CA (n = 6, 20.0%), BRCA2 (n = 5, 16.7%), MDM2/4 (n = 5, 16.7%), and BRAF (n = 4, 13.3%) as the most common gene alterations. MDM2/4 mutations were associated with shorter survival (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: GC plus immunotherapy is still the standard of care for late stage BTC. PD-L1 expression and TMB were not good predictors for selecting patients who would benefit more from immunotherapy plus chemotherapy.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer is a multidisciplinary medium for the publication of novel research pertaining to cancers arising from the gastrointestinal tract.The journal is dedicated to the most rapid publication possible.The journal publishes papers in all relevant fields, emphasizing those studies that are helpful in understanding and treating cancers affecting the esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder and biliary tree, pancreas, small bowel, large bowel, rectum, and anus. In addition, the Journal of Gastrointestinal Cancer publishes basic and translational scientific information from studies providing insight into the etiology and progression of cancers affecting these organs. New insights are provided from diverse areas of research such as studies exploring pre-neoplastic states, risk factors, epidemiology, genetics, preclinical therapeutics, surgery, radiation therapy, novel medical therapeutics, clinical trials, and outcome studies.In addition to reports of original clinical and experimental studies, the journal also publishes: case reports, state-of-the-art reviews on topics of immediate interest or importance; invited articles analyzing particular areas of pancreatic research and knowledge; perspectives in which critical evaluation and conflicting opinions about current topics may be expressed; meeting highlights that summarize important points presented at recent meetings; abstracts of symposia and conferences; book reviews; hypotheses; Letters to the Editors; and other items of special interest, including:Complex Cases in GI Oncology: This is a new initiative to provide a forum to review and discuss the history and management of complex and involved gastrointestinal oncology cases. The format will be similar to a teaching case conference where a case vignette is presented and is followed by a series of questions and discussion points. A brief reference list supporting the points made in discussion would be expected.