Digital quantification of tumor PD-L1 predicts outcome of PD-1-based immune checkpoint therapy in metastatic melanoma
BackgroundPD-1-based immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is a highly effective therapy in metastatic melanoma. However, 40-60% of patients are primarily resistant, with valid predictive biomarkers currently missing. This study investigated the digitally quantified tumor PD-L1 expression for ICB therapy...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
21 September 2021
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| In: |
Frontiers in oncology
Year: 2021, Volume: 11, Pages: 1-11 |
| ISSN: | 2234-943X |
| DOI: | 10.3389/fonc.2021.741993 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2021.741993 Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fonc.2021.741993 
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| Author Notes: | Jan-Malte Placke, Camille Soun, Jenny Bottek, Rudolf Herbst, Patrick Terheyden, Jochen Utikal, Claudia Pföhler, Jens Ulrich, Alexander Kreuter, Christiane Pfeiffer, Peter Mohr, Ralf Gutzmer, Friedegund Meier, Edgar Dippel, Michael Weichenthal, Lisa Zimmer, Elisabeth Livingstone, Jürgen C. Becker, Georg Lodde, Antje Sucker, Klaus Griewank, Susanne Horn, Eva Hadaschik, Alexander Roesch, Dirk Schadendorf, Daniel Robert Engel and Selma Ugurel |
| Summary: | BackgroundPD-1-based immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is a highly effective therapy in metastatic melanoma. However, 40-60% of patients are primarily resistant, with valid predictive biomarkers currently missing. This study investigated the digitally quantified tumor PD-L1 expression for ICB therapy outcome prediction.Patients and MethodsTumor tissues taken prior to PD-1-based ICB for unresectable metastatic disease were collected within the prospective multicenter Tissue Registry in Melanoma (TRIM). PD-L1 expression (clone 28-8; cut-off=5%) was determined by digital and physician quantification, and correlated with therapy outcome (best overall response, BOR; progression-free survival, PFS; overall survival, OS).ResultsTissue samples from 156 patients were analyzed (anti-PD-1, n=115; anti-CTLA-4+anti-PD-1, n=41). Patients with PD-L1-positive tumors showed an improved response compared to patients with PD-L1-negative tumors, by digital (BOR 50.5% versus 32.2%; p=0.026) and physician (BOR 54.2% versus 36.6%; p=0.032) quantification. Tumor PD-L1 positivity was associated with a prolonged PFS and OS by either digital (PFS, 9.9 versus 4.6 months, p=0.021; OS, not reached versus 13.0 months, p=0.001) or physician (PFS, 10.6 versus 5.6 months, p=0.051; OS, not reached versus 15.6 months, p=0.011) quantification. Multivariable Cox regression revealed digital (PFS, HR=0.57, p=0.007; OS, HR=0.44, p=0.001) and physician (OS, HR=0.54, p=0.016) PD-L1 quantification as independent predictors of survival upon PD-1-based ICB. The combination of both methods identified a patient subgroup with particularly favorable therapy outcome (PFS, HR=0.53, p=0.011; OS, HR=0.47, p=0.008).ConclusionPre-treatment tumor PD-L1 positivity predicted a favorable outcome of PD-1-based ICB in melanoma. Herein, digital quantification was not inferior to physician quantification, and should be further validated for clinical use. |
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| Item Description: | Gesehen am 08.12.2021 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 2234-943X |
| DOI: | 10.3389/fonc.2021.741993 |