PD-L1 expression with immune-infiltrate evaluation and outcome prediction in melanoma patients treated with ipilimumab. (2nd December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Madonna, Gabriele; Ballesteros-Merino, Carmen; Feng, Zipei; Bifulco, Carlo; Capone, Mariaelena; Giannarelli, Diana; Mallardo, Domenico; Simeone, Ester; Grimaldi, Antonio M.; Caracò, Corrado; Botti, Gerardo; Fox, Bernard A.; Ascierto, Paolo A.
• Is Part Of: Oncoimmunology. Volume 7:Number 12(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-12-02
• Subjects: Immunotherapy -- Ipilimumab -- Melanoma -- PD-L1 -- Tumor microenvironment; Tumors -- Immunological aspects -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- therapy -- Periodicals; Immunotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1080/2162402X.2017.1405206
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2162-402X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background : Tumor microenvironment may have a key role in providing immunological markers that can help predict clinical response to treatment with checkpoint inhibitors. We investigated whether the baseline expression of PD-L1 in advanced melanoma patients treated with ipilimumab may correlate with clinical outcome. Methods : PD-L1 expression was assessed in 114 patients with advanced melanoma treated with ipilimumab and, in a cohort of 77 patients, a comprehensive assessment using multispectral imaging to assess the presence and distribution of CD3+, CD8+, CD163+, FOXP3+ and PD-L1+ cells inside and at periphery of the tumor was performed. Results : PD-L1 status alone was not a predictive biomarker for response or survival. There was an association between clinical benefit from ipilimumab therapy with the coexistence of low densities of CD8+ and high densities of CD163+ PD-L1+ cells at the periphery of the tumor. Conclusions : To explain the association of this peculiar microenvironment with clinical benefit from ipilimumab, we proposed a model where baseline CD8 cells levels are low due to inhibitory effect of Tregs and to pro-tumor activity of TAM M2 (CD163+ PD-L1+ cells). Ipilimumab treatment causes a decrease of Treg cells, mediated by ADCC from macrophages, with a concomitant change in TAM polarization that switches from M2 to M1 with a subsequent attraction of CD8 cells and the increase of antitumor response.