The differential response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) according to mismatch repair alterations in gastrointestinal (GI) non-colorectal cancers (non-CRCs) and the impact of dual vs. monotherapy ICIs on survival in GI (CRC and non-CRC) cancers.

Authors

Moh'd Khushman

Moh'd M. Khushman

Washington University in St. Louis, Siteman Cancer Center, St. Louis, MO

Moh'd M. Khushman , Sharon Wu , Joanne Xiu , Alex Patrick Farrell , Anthony F. Shields , John Marshall , Heinz-Josef Lenz , Michael J. Hall , Jim Abraham , Matthew James Oberley , George W. Sledge Jr., David Spetzler , Ibrahim Halil Sahin , Michael Iglesia , Emil Lou

Organizations

Washington University in St. Louis, Siteman Cancer Center, St. Louis, MO, Caris Life Sciences, Phoenix, AZ, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, Department of medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, The University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

Research Funding

No funding received
None.

Background: In patients with mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) colorectal cancers (CRCs), we previously reported that loss of expression of MSH2 and MSH6 (MutS co-loss) was associated with better response to ICIs and longer median overall survival (mOS) compared to loss of expression of MLH1 and PMS2 (MutL co-loss). Here, we expanded our analysis and included gastrointestinal (GI) non-CRCs and explored the impact of dual vs. monotherapy ICIs on mOS in GI (CRC and non-CRC) cancers. Methods: Specimens were profiled by next-generation sequencing (592, NextSeq; WES, WTS NovaSeq) (Caris Life Sciences, Phoenix, AZ). MMR/microsatellite instability (MSI) status was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) of MMR protein. Real world OS was extracted from insurance claims and calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimates for molecularly defined cohorts from first treatment with ICIs (Nivolumab, Nivo; Ipilumumab, ipi; or Pembrolizumab, pembro) to last contact. Statistical significance was determined using chi-square and Mann-Whitney U test with p-values adjusted for multiple comparisons (q < 0.05). Results: The GI non-CRC cohort (N= 19,767) included cancers of the esophagus, stomach, gastroesophageal junction, pancreas, bile duct and small bowel with 97 (0.49%) patients having MutS co-loss, and 494 (4.03%) patients having MutL co-loss. MutS co-loss was associated with increased KRAS (45.4% vs 25.2%, q<0.01), CDKN2A (29.2% vs 9.0%), GNAS (27.8% vs 7.8%) and SMAD4 (17.5% vs 5.9%) mutations compared to MutL co-loss. Independent of treatment, MutS co-loss (N=74) had improved mOS compared to MutL co-loss (N=332) (40.4 m vs. 26.2 m, HR = 0.66; (95% CI: 0.46-0.95), P=0.024). In patients treated with ICIs, the mOS in MutS co-loss (N=21) was better compared to MutL co-loss (N=76) (not reached (NR) vs. 25.4 m, HR= 0.23 (95% CI: 0.07-0.75), p=0.008). At 3 years, more than 80% of the patients with MutS co-loss were alive. Of particular importance, when looking at all GI (CRC and non-CRC) patients, the mOS of MutL co-loss treated with ipi/nivo (N=18) trended for better mOS compared to MutL co-loss treated with pembro (N=215) (NR vs. 28.2m (HR=0.39; (95% CI:0.14-1.07), p=0.057), while the mOS of MutS co-loss treated with ipi/nivo (N=6) was not different compared to MutS co-loss treated with pembro (N=44) (NR vs. NR, HR=0.75 (95% CI: 0.094-5.92), p=0.78). Conclusions: In ICI-treated GI non-CRCs, the mOS was longer in MutS co-loss compared to MutL co-loss. In ICI-treated GI (CRC and non-CRC) patients with MutL co-loss, there was a trend for better survival with ipi/nivo compared to pembro. Our data suggest that the MutS vs. MutL status may guide the choice of ICIs regimen (Dual vs. Monotherapy) but more data are needed.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2023 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Developmental Therapeutics—Immunotherapy

Track

Developmental Therapeutics—Immunotherapy

Sub Track

Tissue-Based Biomarkers

Citation

J Clin Oncol 41, 2023 (suppl 16; abstr 2620)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2023.41.16_suppl.2620

Abstract #

2620

Poster Bd #

462

Abstract Disclosures