A novel combination score based on early serum tumor markers and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio dynamics predicts response to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Authors

null

Jun Wang

Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China

Jun Wang , Yin Tang , Yahong Sun , Beibei Yin , Yaping Guan , Dongfeng Feng

Organizations

Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China, Department of Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China

Research Funding

No funding received
None

Background: Serum tumor markers (STM) are viewed as surrogate indicators of tumor burden, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been reported to be associated with the systematic inflammation and immunity status of the host. The present study was designed to evaluate early STM and NLR dynamics as combined biomarkers to predict efficacy and prognosis for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who received immunotherapy with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with advanced NSCLC who were treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Several STM, including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin-19 fragments (CYFRA 21–1), neuron specific enolase (NSE), carbohydrate antigen 19–9 (CA19–9), and carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), and NLR were routinely measured or calculated at NSCLC diagnosis. Early leading STM and NLR change were evaluated between immunotherapy initiation and the first subsequent restaging. At least 20% decreases of the leading STM were considered as leading STM decrease after immunotherapy. Both pretreatment and posttreatment NLR < 5 were considered as continuous low NLR. A combination score based on the leading STM and NLR dynamics was calculated. The effects of leading STM change, NLR change, and the combination score on objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed in a training cohort (n = 79) and confirmed in a validation cohort (n = 35). Results: A total of 120 patients were included in this retrospective cohort study. The median age was 63.0 years and 71.0% was male. Overall, ORR was 20.0%, and median OS and PFS were 6.2 and 4.6 months, respectively. Patients with low combination score had a significantly improved ORR (15/60) compared to those with intermediate (0/11), or high score (0/4) (P = 0.032). In the training cohort, the combination score was significantly associated with OS (P< 0.001) and PFS (P< 0.001) for all patients, as well as for those with stable and progressive disease (P< 0.001 for OS; P< 0.001 for PFS). This combination score was also further confirmed to stratify patients with different prognosis in terms of OS (P< 0.001) and PFS (P< 0.001) in the validation cohort. In a multivariable model, the combination score was an independent indicator for predicting OS (P< 0.001) and PFS (P< 0.001). Conclusions: A simple and novel combination score based on early STM and NLR dynamics representing surrogate indicators of tumor burden, and immunity status, respectively, can accurately predict efficacy and prognosis for advanced NSCLC patients with PD-1/PD-L1 blockade.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2021 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Publication Only

Session Title

Publication Only: Lung Cancer—Non-Small Cell Metastatic

Track

Lung Cancer

Sub Track

Metastatic Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

Citation

J Clin Oncol 39, 2021 (suppl 15; abstr e21095)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2021.39.15_suppl.e21095

Abstract #

e21095

Abstract Disclosures