scholarly journals Tumor cell PD-L1 expression is a strong predictor of unfavorable prognosis in immune checkpoint therapy-naive clear cell renal cell cancer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Möller ◽  
Christoph Fraune ◽  
Niclas C. Blessin ◽  
Maximilian Lennartz ◽  
Martina Kluth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Cells ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Renal Cell ◽  
Clear Cell ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Strong Predictor ◽  
Cell Cancer ◽  
Tumor Type ◽  
Cancer Aggressiveness ◽  
Papillary Rcc

Abstract Background PD-L1 expression predicts response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in renal cell carcinomas (RCC), but has also been suggested to be linked to poor patient outcome. Methods We analyzed PD-L1 in > 1400 RCC in a tissue microarray format by immunohistochemistry. Results were compared with histological tumor type, parameters of cancer aggressiveness, and intratumoral CD8+ cytotoxic cells. Result At a cut-off level of 5% PD-L1 positive tumor cells, PD-L1 positivity was seen in 6.3% of 633 clear cell RCC (ccRCC), 18.2% of 165 papillary RCC, 18.8% of 64 chromophobe RCC, and 41.7% of 103 oncocytomas. In ccRCC, PD-L1 positivity was significantly linked to high ISUP (p < 0.0001), Fuhrman (p < 0.0001), Thoenes grade (p < 0.0001), distant metastasis (p = 0.0042), short recurrence-free (p < 0.0001), and overall survival (p = 0.0002). Intratumoral CD8+ lymphocytes were more frequent in PD-L1 positive (1055 ± 109) than in PD-L1 negative ccRCC (407 ± 28; p < 0.0001). PD-L positive immune cells were seen in 8.2% of all RCC and 13.9% of papillary RCC. In ccRCC, PD-L1 positive immune cells were linked to high numbers of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ cells (p < 0.0001), high ISUP (p < 0.0001), Fuhrman (p = 0.0027), and Thoenes grade (p < 0.0001), and poor tumor-specific survival (p = 0.0280). Conclusions These data suggest that PD-L1 expression in highly immunogenic RCCs facilitates immune evasion and contributes to cancer aggressiveness.

Association with immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy of a 27-gene classifier in renal cell cancer.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 4575-4575
Author(s):  
Robert Seitz ◽  
Tyler J Nielsen ◽  
Brock Lloyd Schweitzer ◽  
David R. Gandara ◽  
Mamta Parikh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Renal Cell ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Cell Cancer ◽  
The Cancer Genome Atlas ◽  
Tumor Type ◽  
Multiple Tumor ◽  
Diagnostic Threshold ◽  
One Year

4575 Background: The 27-gene immuno-oncology (IO) signature that incorporates expression from activated inflammatory cells, cancer associated fibroblasts, and tumor cells to produce a binary classifier has been shown to be associated with efficacy to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in breast, lung, and bladder cancers. Here we created clustered heat maps using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to confirm the classifier function and diagnostic threshold in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), then applied the predefined algorithm to RNAseq data from a community RCC cohort treated with ICI therapy. Methods: Previously, we described the selection of 939 genes from the TCGA breast and lung datasets that comprise mesenchymal (M), mesenchymal stem-like (MSL), and immunodulatory (IM) gene expression patterns centered upon the twenty-seven genes selected for the IO score (AACR, 2021). We created an expression dataset using these genes in clear cell (n = 403) and papillary (n = 203) RCC and used k-means clustering to organize the genes and cases (k=3). We assessed the 27-gene classification of cases by utilizing area under the curve for phenotypic classification and determining the sensitivity and specificity of the previously established threshold compared to optimal accuracy for quantitating the fraction of cases enriched into the IM+ cluster (likely sensitive to ICIs) as opposed to the M or MSL clusters (likely insensitive). Finally, the IO score was evaluated in a small multi-institutional RNAseq dataset of forty-three RCC patients treated with an ICI for which there was definitive one-year progression free survival (PFS) data. Results: The 27-gene IO signature applied to the TCGA sample data had an AUC of 90.3 for stratification of cases into IM+ as opposed to M and MSL clusters while the established threshold for likely sensitive enriched 90% of cases into the appropriate IM cluster as opposed 28% into the M and MSL. Efficacy was defined by PFS. Given this result, the 27-gene IO signature was applied with the predefined threshold to the forty-three ICI treated patients. Patients who had a IO+ score by the 27-gene signature had significantly better one-year PFS compared to patients with a negative IO score (hazard ratio = 0.235, 95% CI = 0.069 - 0.803, p < 0.01). Median PFS was 5.2 months for patients classified as IO score negative versus 8.6 months for those classified as IO score+. Conclusions: The 27-gene IO signature has been validated across multiple tumor types and here in RCC to classify the tumor immune microenvironment without changing the algorithm or threshold. Results demonstrate that the 27-gene classifier has a strong correlation with efficacy of ICI therapy in RCC. This is the fourth tumor type in which the same algorithm has been validated as a predictor of ICI efficacy. These data support this assay as a strong pan-cancer immune system classifier worthy of further prospective study for ICI therapy.

Outcome with immune checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic renal cell carcinoma across different treatment lines.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (6_suppl) ◽  
pp. 651-651
Author(s):  
Andreas Bruchbacher ◽  
Johannes Franke ◽  
Zumreta Alic ◽  
Sebastian Nachbargauer ◽  
Harun Fajkovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renal Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Renal Cell ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Clear Cell ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
First Line ◽  
Entire Cohort ◽  
Treatment Line

651 Background: The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPI) has led to a paradigm change in the management of metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (mRCC). Prospective trials focused on ICPI treatment in first- or second-line. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the benefit of ICPI across different treatment lines. Methods: This is a single center retrospective study from the Medical University of Vienna which included all mRCC patients who received ICPIs in various treatment lines. Overall response rates (ORR), progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated for the entire cohort and by treatment line. Results: Between January 2014 and October 2019, a total of 113 patients received ICPIs. Ninety-four patients were eligible for full evaluation (83% clear cell and 17% non-clear cell). 26.8%, 61.6% and 14.8% were classified good, intermediate and poor IMDC-risk, respectively. 59%, 20% and 21% were treated with ICPI monotherapy, dual ICPI therapy and ICPI + tyrosine kinase inhibitor, respectively. ORR, median PFS and median OS for the entire cohort was 39.4%, 9.67 months (95%CI: 6.9-12.4 months) and 23.6 months (95%CI: 13.3-33.9 months), respectively. The ORR by treatment line was: 33% in first-line (9 patients), 40.4%, in second- (42 patients), 35% in third- (20 patients) and 43.5% in fourth and beyond-fourth-line (23 patients). The median PFS by treatment line was: 8.6 months, 10.3 months, 7.9 months and 7.23 months, respectively. The median OS was not reached (NR) in first-line and 26.2 months, 18.1 months and 20.7 months in second-, third-, and fourth and beyond- ICPI treatment line, respectively. The global OS for the whole patient cohort calculated from diagnosis of metastasis was 80 months (CL 95%: 50.5 – 109.5 months). Conclusions: ICPIs are active in all treatment lines and should also be offered in heavily pre-treated patients, who have not had access in earlier treatment lines.

Expression of endogenous retroviruses and response to immune checkpoint therapy in renal cell cancer.

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (5_suppl) ◽  
pp. 104-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anshuman Panda ◽  
Aguirre De Cubas ◽  
Katy Beckermann ◽  
Gregory Riedlinger ◽  
Mark N. Stein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Activation ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Renal Cell ◽  
Clear Cell ◽  
Cell Cancer ◽  
Endogenous Retroviruses ◽  
Multiple Cancer ◽  
Checkpoint Activation ◽  
Cancer Types ◽  
Cell Renal Cancer

104 Background: In certain cancers, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC), no clear correlation exists between mutation burden and response to immune checkpoint therapy. To look for other markers of immune activation, we investigated the correlation between expression of endogenous retroviruses (ERV) and evidence of immune checkpoint activation in multiple cancer types. Methods: RNA-seq data of 4,910 tumors of 21 cancers from TCGA was analyzed to identify cancers in which there was correlation between ERV expression and evidence of immune checkpoint activation as shown by increased expression of immune checkpoint genes and evidence of CD8+ T-cell infiltration. Expression of candidate ERVs was measured by quantitative RT-PCR in a set of 20 RCC specimens. Results: In the TCGA clear-cell renal cancer, ER+HER2- breast cancer, and colon cancer datasets showed correlation between expression of a subset of ERVs and markers of local immune checkpoint activation. Using hierarchical clustering, tumors could be classified into 3 groups (high/intermediate/low) based on expression of these ERVs. In all these cancer types, the high ERV expressing group showed evidence of immune activation (robust immune infiltration with high CD8+ T cell fraction) and checkpoint (PD-1, CTLA-4) pathway over-expression. Expression of gene pathways associated with histone modification was significantly correlated with overall ERV expression, suggesting underlying dysregulation of chromatin silencing. Of ERVs analyzed ERV3.2 and ERVK-2 were most consistently associated with markers of immune checkpoint activation in multiple cancer types. For validation, expression of ERVs were measured in tumor sepcimens 20 clear cell renal cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint blockade. Expression of ERV3-2 and ERVK-2, was significantly increased in patients with clinical response to immune checkpoint therapy in this cohort. Conclusions: These data suggest that expression of ERV may be associated with activation of immune checkpoint pathways in renal cell cancer and may predict response to immune checkpoint therapy. Similar associations may also exist in some other solid tumors.

Effectiveness of first-line immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in advanced non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (6_suppl) ◽  
pp. 316-316
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Graham ◽  
Connor Wells ◽  
Shaan Dudani ◽  
Chun Loo Gan ◽  
Frede Donskov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renal Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Targeted Therapy ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Renal Cell ◽  
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Clear Cell ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
First Line ◽  
Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

316 Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have demonstrated impressive activity in metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and have become standard treatment options in this setting. Data supporting the effectiveness of ICI based therapy in non-clear cell RCC (nccRCC) is more limited. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis using the International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC). Patients with nccRCC were classified into 3 groups based on first-line therapy: ICI based therapy (in monotherapy or in combination), vascular endothelial growth factor targeted therapy (VEGF-TT) monotherapy, or mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor monotherapy. Primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes were time to treatment failure (TTF) and objective response rate (ORR). We used Kaplan-Meier method to compare OS and TTF between treatment groups and Cox proportional hazards models to adjust for prognostic covariates. Results: We identified 1181 patients with nccRCC. In first-line, 78.2% received VEGF-TT, 15.8% mTOR inhibitors, and 5.5% ICI based therapy, of which 41.5% in monotherapy, 30.8% doublet-ICIs and 27.7% an ICI combined with VEGF-TT. Median OS in the ICI group was 28.6 months, compared to 19.2 and 12.6 in the VEGF-TT and mTOR groups, respectively. Median TTF was 6.9 months vs. 5.1 and 3.9 and ORR was 25% vs. 17.8% and 5.8% in the ICI, VEGF-TT and mTOR groups, respectively. After adjusting for IMDC risk group, histological subtype, and age, the hazard ratio (HR) for OS was 0.58 (95% CI 0.35-0.94, p=0.03) for ICI vs. VEGF-TT and 0.48 (95% CI 0.29-0.80, p=0.005) for ICI vs. mTOR. Conclusions: In advanced nccRCC, first-line ICI based treatment appears to be associated with improved OS compared to VEGF and mTOR targeted therapy. These results need to be confirmed in prospective randomized trials. [Table: see text]

scholarly journals Molecular Mechanisms of Resistance to Immunotherapy and Antiangiogenic Treatments in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 5981
Author(s):  
Pablo Álvarez Ballesteros ◽  
Jesús Chamorro ◽  
María San Román-Gil ◽  
Javier Pozas ◽  
Victoria Gómez Dos Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renal Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Renal Cell ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Clear Cell ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common histological subtype arising from renal cell carcinomas. This tumor is characterized by a predominant angiogenic and immunogenic microenvironment that interplay with stromal, immune cells, and tumoral cells. Despite the obscure prognosis traditionally related to this entity, strategies including angiogenesis inhibition with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), as well as the enhancement of the immune system with the inhibition of immune checkpoint proteins, such as PD-1/PDL-1 and CTLA-4, have revolutionized the treatment landscape. This approach has achieved a substantial improvement in life expectancy and quality of life from patients with advanced ccRCC. Unfortunately, not all patients benefit from this success as most patients will finally progress to these therapies and, even worse, approximately 5 to 30% of patients will primarily progress. In the last few years, preclinical and clinical research have been conducted to decode the biological basis underlying the resistance mechanisms regarding angiogenic and immune-based therapy. In this review, we summarize the insights of these molecular alterations to understand the resistance pathways related to the treatment with TKI and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Moreover, we include additional information on novel approaches that are currently under research to overcome these resistance alterations in preclinical studies and early phase clinical trials.

scholarly journals Immune Checkpoint Inhibition in Advanced Non-Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: Leveraging Success from Clear Cell Histology into New Opportunities

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 3652
Author(s):  
Kevin Zarrabi ◽  
Emily Walzer ◽  
Matthew Zibelman
Keyword(s):  
Renal Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Targeted Therapies ◽  
Immune Checkpoint ◽  
Renal Cell ◽  
Clear Cell ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Clear Cell Rcc

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a histologically heterogeneous disease with multiple subtypes. Clear cell RCC (ccRCC) represents the most common histology and has thus been easiest to study in clinical trials. Non-clear cell RCC (nccRCC) represents about 25% of RCC tumors, with fewer treatment options available, compared to ccRCC, and with poorer outcomes. Non-clear cell RCC tumors are histologically diverse, with each subtype having distinct molecular and clinical characteristics. Our understanding of nccRCC is evolving, with a gradual shift from treating nccRCC as a single entity to approaching each subtype as its own disease with unique features. Due to the scarcity of patients for study development, trials have predominantly combined all nccRCC subtypes and re-purposed drugs already approved for ccRCC, despite the decreased efficacy. We are now in the early stages of a potential paradigm shift in the treatment of nccRCC, with a rapid development of clinical studies with a focus on this subset of tumors. Investigators have launched trials focused on the molecular drivers of tumorigenesis using targeted therapies. Harboring the immunogenicity of some nccRCC subtypes, and based on promising retrospective studies, clinicians have also devised multiple trials using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), both alone or in combination with targeted therapies, for nccRCC subtypes. We highlight the promising completed and ongoing studies employing ICIs that will likely continue to improve outcomes in patients with nccRCC and propose future potential immunotherapeutic avenues.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document