Prognostic role of serum cytokines level in non-small cell lung cancer patients with anti-PD-1 and chemotherapy combined treatment.

Background: Chemotherapy combined with PD-1 inhibitor treatment has revolutionized the standard of care for patients with NSCLC. However, the benefit is not universal, highlighting the need for precise prediction factors. Given their relationship with the immune system and non-invasive nature, serum cytokines are potential candidates for predicting the clinical effects of chemoimmunotherapy. Our study aims to evaluate the association of serum cytokines with the prognosis of patients with NSCLC treated with chemoimmunotherapy.

Methods: Levels of 10 serum cytokines were detected in 60 NSCLC patients receiving chemotherapy plus PD-1 inhibitor-based treatment. Of these, dynamic samples from 19 patients were collected at baseline and after two treatment cycles. Their association with patients' clinicopathological characteristics, PFS and OS was described and investigated using survival analysis, cox regression and time-dependent ROC analysis. Preliminary evaluation of changes in cytokine levels associated with treatment response was conducted.

Results: Patients with lower baseline levels of serum IL-6, IL-5, IL-8, TNF-α and IL-10 had longer PFS, while patients with higher levels of IL-4 had longer PFS. Patients with lower levels of serum IL-6, IL-8, IL-22, TNF-α and IL-10 had longer OS, while patients with higher levels of IL-4 had longer OS. Multivariate analysis suggested that higher IL-6 and IL-5 levels were associated with poorer PFS, and higher IL-6 levels were associated with dismal OS. Additionally, changes in serum cytokine levels could be associated with treatment response.

Conclusion: Our study suggests that serum cytokines, specifically IL-6, IL-5, IL-8, TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-4, are potential prognostic factors for patients with NSCLC receiving chemotherapy plus PD-1 inhibitor treatment.