A study of blood myeloid-derived suppressor cells for predicting pembrolizumab efficacy in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma.

Authors

null

MInoru Kato

Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan

MInoru Kato , Shoma Yamamoto , Yukari Azuma , Yuji Takeyama , Junji Uchida

Organizations

Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan, Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan, Department of Urology, Ishikiri Seiki Hospital, Osaka, Japan

Research Funding

No funding sources reported

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are crucial for treating metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) patients, yet current prognostic biomarkers fail to predict ICI efficacy. Previous preclinical models have suggested myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) as a potential therapeutic target in bladder cancer. This study aims to evaluate the predictive value of blood MDSCs in mUC patients undergoing pembrolizumab treatment. Methods: Ninety-eight mUC patients who progressed with platinum-based chemotherapy at Osaka Metropolitan University received pembrolizumab. Among them, 30 patients were assessed for blood MDSCs. Peripheral blood samples were collected from healthy individuals (n = 6) and mUC patients (n = 30) before pembrolizumab initiation. The mononuclear cell layer was isolated using density gradient centrifugation for MDSC analysis through flow cytometry. Monocytic and polymorphonuclear MDSCs were defined as CD11b+ HLADR – CD33 high CD14 + CD15 – and CD11b+ HLADR – CD33 low CD14 – CD15 +, respectively. The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in blood served as a control. Treatment response was assessed via CT images using RECICT v1.1. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, with log-rank test for between-group comparison. Results: First, blood MDSCs were significantly elevated in mUC patients compared to healthy controls (p = 0.0024, Mann Whitney test). Secondly, patients with MDSClow (≤ median, n = 15) had significantly longer PFS than those with MDSChigh (> median, n = 15) (17.6 vs. 1.9 months, p = 0.0126). However, no significant difference was observed in OS. In contrast, when the NLR cutoff was set at 3.5, no significant association was found for PFS and OS. Conclusions: Blood MDSCs show promise as a predictive marker for pembrolizumab therapy efficacy.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2024 ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session B: Urothelial Carcinoma

Track

Urothelial Carcinoma

Sub Track

Translational Research, Tumor Biology, Biomarkers, and Pathology

Citation

J Clin Oncol 42, 2024 (suppl 4; abstr 658)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2024.42.4_suppl.658

Abstract #

658

Poster Bd #

K2

Abstract Disclosures