HLA-I diversity and tumor mutational burden by comprehensive next-generation sequencing as predictive biomarkers for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer with PD-(L)1 inhibitors. (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cuppens, Kristof; Baas, Paul; Geerdens, Ellen; Cruys, Bert; Froyen, Guy; Decoster, Lynn; Thomeer, Michiel; Maes, Brigitte
• Is Part Of: Lung cancer. Volume 170(2022)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 10
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: Non-small cell lung cancer -- Tumor mutational burden -- TSO500 -- HLA-I diversity -- PD-1 immunotherapy -- HLA-I evolutionary divergence -- HED; CTLA-4 cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated antigen 4 -- DCB durable clinical benefit -- HED HLA-I evolutionary divergence -- HLA-I human leukocyte antigen class I -- ICIs immune checkpoint inhibitors -- IHC immunohistochemistry -- Mb megabase -- MHC major histocompatibility complex -- MSI microsatellite instability -- NGS next-generation sequencing -- NSCLC non-small cell lung cancer -- PD-1 programmed cell death protein 1 -- PD-L1 programmed cell death-ligand 1 -- PFS progression-free survival -- RR response rate -- SR survival rate -- TE therapy exposure -- TMB tumor mutational burden -- TPS tumor proportion score -- TSO500 TruSight Oncology 500 -- WES whole-exome sequencing; Lungs -- Cancer -- Periodicals; Lung Neoplasms -- Abstracts; Lung Neoplasms -- Periodicals; Poumons -- Cancer -- Périodiques; Lungs -- Cancer; Periodicals; Electronic journals; Electronic journals; 616.99424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2022.05.019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0169-5002

Abstract

Highlights: High HLA-I diversity and high TMB, alone or in combination, is associated with favorable clinical outcomes to PD-1 inhibiting immunotherapy. HLA-I diversity can predict durable clinical benefit in ICI treated NSCLC patients but failed to confirm as a predictor of response or survival. High TMB in NSCLC patients is associated with an improved survival rate at 6 months after starting PD-1 inhibiting immunotherapy. Triple-negative NSCLC patients, defined as TMB low, low HLA-I diversity, and PD-L1 TPS < 1%, show no response, shorter therapy exposure and worse survival at 6 months after starting PD-1 inhibiting immunotherapy. Abstract: Objectives: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) improved outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We report the predictive utility of human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) diversity and tumor mutational burden (TMB) by comprehensive next-generation sequencing. Methods: 126 patients were included. TMB high was defined as ≥ 10 nonsynonymous mutations/Mb. Patients exhibit high HLA-I diversity if at least one locus was in the upper 15th percentile for DNA alignment scores. Results: No difference in response rate (RR; 44.4% versus 30.9%; p = 0.1741) or 6-month survival rate (SR; 75.6% versus 77.8%; p = 0.7765) was noted between HLA-I high diversity and low diversity patients. HLA-I high diversity patients did significantly more often exhibit durable clinical benefit (DCB), defined as response or stable disease lasting minimally 6 months (64.4% [29/45] versus 43.2% [35/81]; p = 0.0223). TMB high patients exhibited higher RR (49.1% versus 25.4%; p = 0.0084) and SR 6 months after start ICI (85.5% versus 70.4%; p = 0.0468) than TMB low patients. The proportion of patients with DCB, did not differ significantly between TMB high and low subgroups (60.0% [33/55] versus 42.3% [30/71]; p = 0.0755). Patients with combined dual high TMB and HLA-I diversity had higher RR (63.2% versus 22.2%; p = 0.0033), but SR at 6 months did not differ significantly (84.2% versus 64, 4%; p = 0.1536). A significantly higher rate of patients experienced DCB in dual high compared to the dual low group (73.7% [14/19] versus 35.6% [16/45]; p = 0.0052). Triple positive patients (high TMB and HLA-I diversity and PD-L1 positive) had higher RR (63.6% versus 0.0%; p = 0.0047) and SR at 6 months (100% versus 66.7%; p = 0.0378) compared to triple-negative patients. Conclusion: HLA-I diversity was able to predict durable clinical benefit in ICI treated NSCLC patients, but failed to confirm as a predictor of response or survival. TMB confirmed as a predictive biomarker.