The Role of Eosinophils, Eosinophil-Related Cytokines and AI in Predicting Immunotherapy Efficacy in NSCLC

Immunotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy are standard treatments for non-oncogene-addicted advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Currently, a limited number of biomarkers, including programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, microsatellite instability (MSI), and tumor mutational burden (TMB),...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fausto Omero, Desirèe Speranza, Giuseppe Murdaca, Mariacarmela Cavaleri, Mariapia Marafioti, Vincenzo Cianci, Massimiliano Berretta, Marco Casciaro, Sebastiano Gangemi, Mariacarmela Santarpia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Biomolecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/4/491
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849696799306022912
author Fausto Omero
Desirèe Speranza
Giuseppe Murdaca
Mariacarmela Cavaleri
Mariapia Marafioti
Vincenzo Cianci
Massimiliano Berretta
Marco Casciaro
Sebastiano Gangemi
Mariacarmela Santarpia
author_facet Fausto Omero
Desirèe Speranza
Giuseppe Murdaca
Mariacarmela Cavaleri
Mariapia Marafioti
Vincenzo Cianci
Massimiliano Berretta
Marco Casciaro
Sebastiano Gangemi
Mariacarmela Santarpia
author_sort Fausto Omero
collection DOAJ
description Immunotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy are standard treatments for non-oncogene-addicted advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Currently, a limited number of biomarkers, including programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, microsatellite instability (MSI), and tumor mutational burden (TMB), are used in clinical practice to predict benefits from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). It is therefore necessary to search for novel biomarkers that could be helpful to identify patients who respond to immunotherapy. In this context, research efforts are focusing on different cells and mechanisms involved in anti-tumor immune response. Herein, we provide un updated literature review on the role of eosinophils in cancer development and immune response, and the functions of some cytokines, including IL-31 and IL-33, in eosinophil activation. We discuss available data demonstrating a correlation between eosinophils and clinical outcomes of ICIs in lung cancer. In this context, we underscore the role of absolute eosinophil count (AEC) and tumor-associated tissue eosinophilia (TATE) as promising biomarkers able to predict the efficacy and toxicities from immunotherapy. The role of eosinophils and cytokines in NSCLC, treated with ICIs, is not yet fully understood, and further research may be crucial to determine their role as biomarkers of response. Artificial intelligence, through the analysis of big data, could be exploited in the future to elucidate the role of eosinophils and cytokines in lung cancer.
format Article
id doaj-art-959fd959d28c45cb8d817ee48169783d
institution DOAJ
issn 2218-273X
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Biomolecules
spelling doaj-art-959fd959d28c45cb8d817ee48169783d2025-08-20T03:19:20ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2025-03-0115449110.3390/biom15040491The Role of Eosinophils, Eosinophil-Related Cytokines and AI in Predicting Immunotherapy Efficacy in NSCLCFausto Omero0Desirèe Speranza1Giuseppe Murdaca2Mariacarmela Cavaleri3Mariapia Marafioti4Vincenzo Cianci5Massimiliano Berretta6Marco Casciaro7Sebastiano Gangemi8Mariacarmela Santarpia9Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Human Pathology “G. Barresi”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, ItalyMedical Oncology Unit, Department of Human Pathology “G. Barresi”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, ItalyDepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, ItalyMedical Oncology Unit, Department of Human Pathology “G. Barresi”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, ItalyMedical Oncology Unit, Department of Human Pathology “G. Barresi”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 1, 98125 Messina, ItalyMedical Oncology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, ItalySchool and Operative Unit of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, ItalySchool and Operative Unit of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, ItalyMedical Oncology Unit, Department of Human Pathology “G. Barresi”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, ItalyImmunotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy are standard treatments for non-oncogene-addicted advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Currently, a limited number of biomarkers, including programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, microsatellite instability (MSI), and tumor mutational burden (TMB), are used in clinical practice to predict benefits from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). It is therefore necessary to search for novel biomarkers that could be helpful to identify patients who respond to immunotherapy. In this context, research efforts are focusing on different cells and mechanisms involved in anti-tumor immune response. Herein, we provide un updated literature review on the role of eosinophils in cancer development and immune response, and the functions of some cytokines, including IL-31 and IL-33, in eosinophil activation. We discuss available data demonstrating a correlation between eosinophils and clinical outcomes of ICIs in lung cancer. In this context, we underscore the role of absolute eosinophil count (AEC) and tumor-associated tissue eosinophilia (TATE) as promising biomarkers able to predict the efficacy and toxicities from immunotherapy. The role of eosinophils and cytokines in NSCLC, treated with ICIs, is not yet fully understood, and further research may be crucial to determine their role as biomarkers of response. Artificial intelligence, through the analysis of big data, could be exploited in the future to elucidate the role of eosinophils and cytokines in lung cancer.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/4/491immunotherapyNSCLClung cancerbiomarkerseosinophilscytokines
spellingShingle Fausto Omero
Desirèe Speranza
Giuseppe Murdaca
Mariacarmela Cavaleri
Mariapia Marafioti
Vincenzo Cianci
Massimiliano Berretta
Marco Casciaro
Sebastiano Gangemi
Mariacarmela Santarpia
The Role of Eosinophils, Eosinophil-Related Cytokines and AI in Predicting Immunotherapy Efficacy in NSCLC
Biomolecules
immunotherapy
NSCLC
lung cancer
biomarkers
eosinophils
cytokines
title The Role of Eosinophils, Eosinophil-Related Cytokines and AI in Predicting Immunotherapy Efficacy in NSCLC
title_full The Role of Eosinophils, Eosinophil-Related Cytokines and AI in Predicting Immunotherapy Efficacy in NSCLC
title_fullStr The Role of Eosinophils, Eosinophil-Related Cytokines and AI in Predicting Immunotherapy Efficacy in NSCLC
title_full_unstemmed The Role of Eosinophils, Eosinophil-Related Cytokines and AI in Predicting Immunotherapy Efficacy in NSCLC
title_short The Role of Eosinophils, Eosinophil-Related Cytokines and AI in Predicting Immunotherapy Efficacy in NSCLC
title_sort role of eosinophils eosinophil related cytokines and ai in predicting immunotherapy efficacy in nsclc
topic immunotherapy
NSCLC
lung cancer
biomarkers
eosinophils
cytokines
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/4/491
work_keys_str_mv AT faustoomero theroleofeosinophilseosinophilrelatedcytokinesandaiinpredictingimmunotherapyefficacyinnsclc
AT desireesperanza theroleofeosinophilseosinophilrelatedcytokinesandaiinpredictingimmunotherapyefficacyinnsclc
AT giuseppemurdaca theroleofeosinophilseosinophilrelatedcytokinesandaiinpredictingimmunotherapyefficacyinnsclc
AT mariacarmelacavaleri theroleofeosinophilseosinophilrelatedcytokinesandaiinpredictingimmunotherapyefficacyinnsclc
AT mariapiamarafioti theroleofeosinophilseosinophilrelatedcytokinesandaiinpredictingimmunotherapyefficacyinnsclc
AT vincenzocianci theroleofeosinophilseosinophilrelatedcytokinesandaiinpredictingimmunotherapyefficacyinnsclc
AT massimilianoberretta theroleofeosinophilseosinophilrelatedcytokinesandaiinpredictingimmunotherapyefficacyinnsclc
AT marcocasciaro theroleofeosinophilseosinophilrelatedcytokinesandaiinpredictingimmunotherapyefficacyinnsclc
AT sebastianogangemi theroleofeosinophilseosinophilrelatedcytokinesandaiinpredictingimmunotherapyefficacyinnsclc
AT mariacarmelasantarpia theroleofeosinophilseosinophilrelatedcytokinesandaiinpredictingimmunotherapyefficacyinnsclc
AT faustoomero roleofeosinophilseosinophilrelatedcytokinesandaiinpredictingimmunotherapyefficacyinnsclc
AT desireesperanza roleofeosinophilseosinophilrelatedcytokinesandaiinpredictingimmunotherapyefficacyinnsclc
AT giuseppemurdaca roleofeosinophilseosinophilrelatedcytokinesandaiinpredictingimmunotherapyefficacyinnsclc
AT mariacarmelacavaleri roleofeosinophilseosinophilrelatedcytokinesandaiinpredictingimmunotherapyefficacyinnsclc
AT mariapiamarafioti roleofeosinophilseosinophilrelatedcytokinesandaiinpredictingimmunotherapyefficacyinnsclc
AT vincenzocianci roleofeosinophilseosinophilrelatedcytokinesandaiinpredictingimmunotherapyefficacyinnsclc
AT massimilianoberretta roleofeosinophilseosinophilrelatedcytokinesandaiinpredictingimmunotherapyefficacyinnsclc
AT marcocasciaro roleofeosinophilseosinophilrelatedcytokinesandaiinpredictingimmunotherapyefficacyinnsclc
AT sebastianogangemi roleofeosinophilseosinophilrelatedcytokinesandaiinpredictingimmunotherapyefficacyinnsclc
AT mariacarmelasantarpia roleofeosinophilseosinophilrelatedcytokinesandaiinpredictingimmunotherapyefficacyinnsclc