Immunological Correlates of Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma

Abstract

Background

The identification of prognostic and/or predictive biomarkers for response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) could help guide treatment decisions.

Objective

We assessed changes in programmed cell death-1 (PD1)/PD1 ligand (PDL1) expression in key immunomodulatory cell subsets (myeloid-derived suppressor cells [MDSC]; cytotoxic T lymphocytes [CTL]) following ICI therapy and investigated whether these changes correlated with outcomes in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC).

Patients and Methods

Serial peripheral blood samples were collected from ICI-treated mUC patients. Flow cytometry was used to quantify PD1/PDL1 expression on MDSC (CD33⁺HLADR⁻) and CTL (CD8⁺CD4⁻) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. MDSC were grouped into monocytic (M)-MDSC (CD14⁺CD15⁻), polymorphonuclear (PMN)-MDSC (CD14⁻CD15⁺), and immature (I)-MDSC (CD14⁻CD15⁻). Mixed-model regression and Wilcoxon signed-rank or rank-sum tests were performed to assess post-ICI changes in immune biomarker expression and identify correlations between PD1/PDL1 expression and objective response to ICI.

Results

Of 41 ICI-treated patients, 26 received anti-PDL1 (23 atezolizumab/3 avelumab) and 15 received anti-PD1 (pembrolizumab) therapy. Based on available data, 27.5% had prior intravesical Bacillus Calmette–Guérin therapy, 42% had prior neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and 70% had prior cystectomy or nephroureterectomy. Successive doses of anti-PDL1 correlated with decreased percentage of PDL1⁺ (%PDL1⁺) M-MDSC, while doses of anti-PD1 correlated with decreased %PD1⁺ M- and I-MDSC. Although pre-treatment %PD1⁺ CTL did not predict response, a greater %PD1⁺ CTL within 9 weeks after ICI initiation correlated with objective response.

Conclusions

Treatment with ICI correlated with distinct changes in PD1/PDL1-expressing peripheral immune cell subsets, which may predict objective response to ICI. Further studies are required to validate immune molecular expression as a prognostic and/or predictive biomarker for long-term outcomes in mUC.

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