Potential Role of Circulating PD-L1+ Leukocytes as a Predictor of Response to Anti-PD-(L)1 Therapy in NSCLC Patients

Autor: Georgia Anguera, Maria Mulet, Carlos Zamora, Rubén Osuna-Gómez, Andrés Barba, Ivana Sullivan, Jorgina Serra-López, Elisabet Cantó, Silvia Vidal, Margarita Majem
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Biomedicines, Vol 12, Iss 5, p 958 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2227-9059
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12050958
Popis: PD-(L)1 inhibitors are part of the treatment strategy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) although its efficacy is limited to certain patients. Our study aimed to identify patients who might benefit from anti-PD-(L)1 inhibitors by analyzing the PD-L1 expression on circulating leukocytes and its evolution during treatment. One hundred thirteen NSCLC patients, according to their radiological response after 10–12 weeks of treatment, were classified into responders, stable, and progressive disease. Percentages of circulating PD-L1+ leukocytes, PD-L1+ platelets (PLTs), and leukocyte-PLT complexes were assessed using flow cytometry, and plasma concentrations of soluble immunomodulatory factors were quantified by ELISA. Responders exhibited significantly higher pre-treatment percentages of PD-L1+ neutrophils, PD-L1+ CD14+ cells, and PD-L1+ PLTs than progressors. The percentages of these populations decreased in responders post-treatment, contrasting with stables and progressors. PLTs notably contributed to PD-L1 expression in CD14+ cells and neutrophils. Plasma cytokine analysis revealed baseline differences only in IL-17 concentration among groups, whereas network analyses highlighted distinct association patterns between plasma molecules and PD-L1+ leukocytes after 10–12 weeks of treatment. Our findings suggest that pre-treatment assessment of circulating PD-L1+ neutrophils, PD-L1+ CD14+ cells, and PD-L1+ PLTs may be helpful in identifying NSCLC patients who are potential candidates for anti-PD-(L)1 therapy.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals