Blood-based biomarkers in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint blockade
Abstract The paradigm of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment has been profoundly influenced by the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), but the range of clinical responses observed among patients poses significant challenges. To date, analyses of tumor biopsies are the only pa...
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| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13046-024-02969-1 |
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| author | Yo-Ting Tsai Jeffrey Schlom Renee N. Donahue |
| author_facet | Yo-Ting Tsai Jeffrey Schlom Renee N. Donahue |
| author_sort | Yo-Ting Tsai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The paradigm of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment has been profoundly influenced by the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), but the range of clinical responses observed among patients poses significant challenges. To date, analyses of tumor biopsies are the only parameter used to guide prognosis to ICI therapy. Tumor biopsies, however, are often difficult to obtain and tissue-based biomarkers are limited by intratumoral heterogeneity and temporal variability. In response, there has been a growing emphasis on the development of “liquid biopsy”‒ derived biomarkers, which offer a minimally invasive means to dynamically monitor the immune status of NSCLC patients either before and/or during the course of treatment. Here we review studies in which multiple blood-based biomarkers encompassing circulating soluble analytes, immune cell subsets, circulating tumor DNA, blood-based tumor mutational burden, and circulating tumor cells have shown promising associations with the clinical response of NSCLC patients to ICI therapy. These investigations have unveiled compelling correlations between the peripheral immune status of patients both before and during ICI therapy and patient outcomes, which include response rates, progression-free survival, and overall survival. There is need for rigorous validation and standardization of these blood-based assays for broader clinical application. Integration of multiple blood-based biomarkers into comprehensive panels or algorithms also has the potential to enhance predictive accuracy. Further research aimed at longitudinal monitoring of circulating biomarkers is also crucial to comprehend immune dynamics and resistance mechanisms and should be used alongside tissue-based methods that interrogate the tumor microenvironment to guide treatment decisions and may inform on the development of novel therapeutic strategies. The data reviewed here reinforce the opportunity to refine patient stratification, optimize treatments, and improve outcomes not only in NSCLC but also in the wider spectrum of solid tumors undergoing immunotherapy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-21c56c76fb7044b9b27a608c5350302d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1756-9966 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-21c56c76fb7044b9b27a608c5350302d2025-02-09T12:59:56ZengBMCJournal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research1756-99662024-03-0143112210.1186/s13046-024-02969-1Blood-based biomarkers in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint blockadeYo-Ting Tsai0Jeffrey Schlom1Renee N. Donahue2Center for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthCenter for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthCenter for Immuno-Oncology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of HealthAbstract The paradigm of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment has been profoundly influenced by the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), but the range of clinical responses observed among patients poses significant challenges. To date, analyses of tumor biopsies are the only parameter used to guide prognosis to ICI therapy. Tumor biopsies, however, are often difficult to obtain and tissue-based biomarkers are limited by intratumoral heterogeneity and temporal variability. In response, there has been a growing emphasis on the development of “liquid biopsy”‒ derived biomarkers, which offer a minimally invasive means to dynamically monitor the immune status of NSCLC patients either before and/or during the course of treatment. Here we review studies in which multiple blood-based biomarkers encompassing circulating soluble analytes, immune cell subsets, circulating tumor DNA, blood-based tumor mutational burden, and circulating tumor cells have shown promising associations with the clinical response of NSCLC patients to ICI therapy. These investigations have unveiled compelling correlations between the peripheral immune status of patients both before and during ICI therapy and patient outcomes, which include response rates, progression-free survival, and overall survival. There is need for rigorous validation and standardization of these blood-based assays for broader clinical application. Integration of multiple blood-based biomarkers into comprehensive panels or algorithms also has the potential to enhance predictive accuracy. Further research aimed at longitudinal monitoring of circulating biomarkers is also crucial to comprehend immune dynamics and resistance mechanisms and should be used alongside tissue-based methods that interrogate the tumor microenvironment to guide treatment decisions and may inform on the development of novel therapeutic strategies. The data reviewed here reinforce the opportunity to refine patient stratification, optimize treatments, and improve outcomes not only in NSCLC but also in the wider spectrum of solid tumors undergoing immunotherapy.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13046-024-02969-1BiomarkerPeripheral bloodLiquid biopsyNSCLCImmunotherapy |
| spellingShingle | Yo-Ting Tsai Jeffrey Schlom Renee N. Donahue Blood-based biomarkers in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint blockade Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research Biomarker Peripheral blood Liquid biopsy NSCLC Immunotherapy |
| title | Blood-based biomarkers in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint blockade |
| title_full | Blood-based biomarkers in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint blockade |
| title_fullStr | Blood-based biomarkers in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint blockade |
| title_full_unstemmed | Blood-based biomarkers in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint blockade |
| title_short | Blood-based biomarkers in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint blockade |
| title_sort | blood based biomarkers in patients with non small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint blockade |
| topic | Biomarker Peripheral blood Liquid biopsy NSCLC Immunotherapy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13046-024-02969-1 |
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