High immunoscore as a predictor of outcome in patients who underwent chemoimmuno-therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer: A post-hoc analysis of the correlation between immunoscore and pCR in the Averectal study.

Authors

null

Ali Shamseddine

American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon

Ali Shamseddine , Ibrahim Moustafa Khalifeh , Rim Turfa , Joseph Gergi Kattan , Deborah Mukherji , Sally Naji Temraz , Kholoud Alqasem , Rula Amarin , Tala Alawabdeh , Samer Deeba , Issa Mohamad , Faiez Daoud , Mahmoud Al Masri , Ali Dabous , Ahmad Hushki , Omar Jaber , Maya Charafeddine , Lama Farhat , Ayman Tawil , Charbel Elias

Organizations

American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon, The Christ hospital, Cincinnati Ohio, Cincinnati, OH, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan, Hotel Dieu de France Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon, The American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon, King Hussein cancer Center, Amman, Jordan, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

Research Funding

Pharmaceutical/Biotech Company

Background: The immunoscore (IS), a prognostic score, was first validated in early colon cancer reflecting the immune response against the tumor. It showed potential in its ability to downstage patients with pathologic complete response (pCR) who would potentially benefit from organ-sparing therapies in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). We first presented our initial outcome with 37.8% pCR in patients with LARC treated with short course radiation therapy (SCRT) followed by 6 cycles of mFOLFOX plus Avelumab followed by total mesorectal excision (TME) in the ESMO 23rd World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer 2021 Conference (presentation # SO-30). Here we are reporting the post-hoc analysis of the correlation between pCR and pre-treatment biopsy IS to further establish the IS as a prognostic score in patients with LARC. Methods: In this Phase II study, 44 patients were accrued from three centers, of whom 40 completed radiotherapy followed by chemoimmunotherapy then TME. 39 patients with available tissue samples, containing tumor cells and its margins, were collected at baseline. CD3 and CD8 cells were counted, and the IS is then derived from the mean density percentiles of CD3 and CD8 positive T cells infiltrating the tumor and in the invasive margin of the tumor. Cutoff for a high IS was established at 62%. We then compared the tumor regression grade (TRG) with the means of IS, using the student t-test. Results: 15 patients with pCR had a mean IS of 68 +/- 22 SD as opposed to a mean IS of 52 +/- 22 SD in 24 patients without pCR (p = 0.036). Conclusions: High IS correlates with TRG as pCR and successfully predicted clinical outcome in LARC patients who underwent chemoimmuno-therapy. It is a promising potential prognostic tool in stratifying patients who would benefit from specific modalities to augment pCR and subsequent organ preservation strategy. Clinical trial information: NCT03503630.

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

2022 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session C: Cancers of the Colon, Rectum, and Anus

Track

Colorectal Cancer,Anal Cancer

Sub Track

Tumor Biology, Biomarkers, and Pathology

Clinical Trial Registration Number

NCT03503630

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2022.40.4_suppl.184

Abstract #

184

Poster Bd #

Online Only

Abstract Disclosures