Background Tumor immune cells influence the efficacy of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and many efforts aim at identifying features of tumor immune microenvironment able to predict benefit from ICIs in proficient mismatch repair (pMMR)/microsatellite stable (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Methods We characterized tumor immune cell infiltrate, by assessing tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), Immunoscore, Immunoscore-IC, and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression in tumor samples of patients with mCRC enrolled in the AtezoTRIBE study, a phase II randomized trial comparing FOLFOXIRI/bevacizumab/atezolizumab to FOLFOXIRI/bevacizumab, with the aim of evaluating the prognostic and predictive value of these features. Results Out of 218 patients enrolled, 181 (83%), 77 (35%), 157 (72%) and 162 (74%) specimens were successfully tested for TILs, Immunoscore, Immunoscore-IC and PD-L1 expression, respectively, and 69 (38%), 45 (58%), 50 (32%) and 21 (13%) tumors were classified as TILs-high, Immunoscore-high, Immunoscore-IC-high and PD-L1-high, respectively. A poor agreement was observed between TILs and Immunoscore or Immunoscore-IC (K of Cohen <0.20). In the pMMR population, longer progression-free survival (PFS) was reported for Immunoscore-high and Immunoscore-IC-high groups compared with Immunoscore-low (16.4 vs 12.2 months; HR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.99; p=0.049) and Immunoscore-IC-low (14.8 vs 11.5 months; HR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.35 to 0.85; p=0.007), respectively, with a significant interaction effect between treatment arms and Immunoscore-IC (p for interaction: 0.006) and a trend for Immunoscore (p for interaction: 0.13). No PFS difference was shown according to TILs and PD-L1 expression. Consistent results were reported in the overall population. Conclusions The digital evaluation of tumor immune cell infiltrate by means of Immunoscore-IC or Immunoscore identifies the subset of patients with pMMR mCRC achieving more benefit from the addition of the anti-PD-L1 to the upfront treatment. Immunoscore-IC stands as the most promising predictor of benefit from ICIs.
Moretto, R., Rossini, D., Catteau, A., Antoniotti, C., Giordano, M., Boccaccino, A., Ugolini, C., Proietti, A., Conca, V., Kassambara, A., Pietrantonio, F., Salvatore, L., Lonardi, S., Tamberi, S., Tamburini, E., Poma, A. M., Fieschi, J., Fontanini, G., Masi, G., Galon, J., Cremolini, C., Dissecting tumor lymphocyte infiltration to predict benefit from immune-checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic colorectal cancer: Lessons from the AtezoT RIBE study, <<JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER>>, 2023; 11 (4): N/A-N/A. [doi:10.1136/jitc-2022-006633] [https://hdl.handle.net/10807/304449]
Dissecting tumor lymphocyte infiltration to predict benefit from immune-checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic colorectal cancer: Lessons from the AtezoT RIBE study
Pietrantonio, Filomena;Salvatore, Lisa;
2023
Abstract
Background Tumor immune cells influence the efficacy of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and many efforts aim at identifying features of tumor immune microenvironment able to predict benefit from ICIs in proficient mismatch repair (pMMR)/microsatellite stable (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Methods We characterized tumor immune cell infiltrate, by assessing tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), Immunoscore, Immunoscore-IC, and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression in tumor samples of patients with mCRC enrolled in the AtezoTRIBE study, a phase II randomized trial comparing FOLFOXIRI/bevacizumab/atezolizumab to FOLFOXIRI/bevacizumab, with the aim of evaluating the prognostic and predictive value of these features. Results Out of 218 patients enrolled, 181 (83%), 77 (35%), 157 (72%) and 162 (74%) specimens were successfully tested for TILs, Immunoscore, Immunoscore-IC and PD-L1 expression, respectively, and 69 (38%), 45 (58%), 50 (32%) and 21 (13%) tumors were classified as TILs-high, Immunoscore-high, Immunoscore-IC-high and PD-L1-high, respectively. A poor agreement was observed between TILs and Immunoscore or Immunoscore-IC (K of Cohen <0.20). In the pMMR population, longer progression-free survival (PFS) was reported for Immunoscore-high and Immunoscore-IC-high groups compared with Immunoscore-low (16.4 vs 12.2 months; HR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.99; p=0.049) and Immunoscore-IC-low (14.8 vs 11.5 months; HR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.35 to 0.85; p=0.007), respectively, with a significant interaction effect between treatment arms and Immunoscore-IC (p for interaction: 0.006) and a trend for Immunoscore (p for interaction: 0.13). No PFS difference was shown according to TILs and PD-L1 expression. Consistent results were reported in the overall population. Conclusions The digital evaluation of tumor immune cell infiltrate by means of Immunoscore-IC or Immunoscore identifies the subset of patients with pMMR mCRC achieving more benefit from the addition of the anti-PD-L1 to the upfront treatment. Immunoscore-IC stands as the most promising predictor of benefit from ICIs.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.