Association of serum iron and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (mccRCC).

Authors

null

Nityam Rathi

University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT

Nityam Rathi , David D. Stenehjem , Neeraj Agarwal , Andrew W Hahn , Deepika Sirohi , Prayushi Sharma , Mei Yee Koh , Benjamin Louis Maughan

Organizations

University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT, University of Minnesota Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duluth, MN, Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, University of Utah Hunstman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT, University of Utah and ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City, UT, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Research Funding

U.S. National Institutes of Health
U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Background: ICIs have improved survival in mRCC patients (pts), yet response rates (RR) to these treatments are variable. Biomarkers predictive of response to ICIs may improve outcomes for mccRCC pts. Genes that promote tumor-specific iron accumulation such as hepcidin (HAMP) or transferrin (TF) are significantly correlated with decreased overall survival in clear cell RCC (TCGA-KIRC). Iron deficiency in cancer patients is positively correlated with tumor stage and inversely proportional to treatment response (PMID: 23567147). Here, we investigate whether serum iron profile may be associated with response to ICIs in mccRCC pts. Methods: Clinical data was obtained from an mRCC registry at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah. Analyses were limited to mccRCC pts who had serum iron studies within 6 months before initiating an ICI and had been assessed for RR. ICIs included nivolumab + ipilimumab, atezolizumab, or nivolumab alone. Responses were defined as complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), or progressive disease (PD) by RECIST criteria. Clinical benefit (CB) was defined as CR + PR + SD. Descriptive statistics were used to assess associations between iron stores and response to ICIs and IMDC criteria. Results: 36 pts met all aforementioned eligibility criteria (29 were of IMDC intermediate risk, 7 were of IMDC poor risk). 5 pts received a first-line ICI, and the remaining 31 pts received ICIs as salvage therapy. Pts with CB had a significantly higher median serum iron level compared to those with no CB (59 vs 38.5 ug/dL; p=0.024). Furthermore, pts with normal transferrin saturation (TSAT %) were more likely to derive CB from ICIs (p=0.048). No association was found between serum ferritin (a marker of inflammation and tissue iron) and response to ICIs. Conclusions: In this hypothesis-generating study, increased serum iron, and TSAT levels within the normal range are associated with an increased likelihood of response to ICIs in pts with mccRCC. Once validated, these results may establish serum iron profile as a predictive marker of response to ICIs, in addition to providing the rationale for ruling out iron deficiency before starting ICIs.

Disclaimer

This material on this page is ©2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology, all rights reserved. Licensing available upon request. For more information, please contact licensing@asco.org

Abstract Details

Meeting

2020 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session C: Renal Cell Cancer

Track

Renal Cell Cancer

Sub Track

Tumor Biology, Biomarkers, and Pathology

Citation

J Clin Oncol 38, 2020 (suppl 6; abstr 723)

Abstract #

723

Poster Bd #

H21

Abstract Disclosures