PD-L1 Tumor Expression as a Predictive Biomarker of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors' Response and Survival in Advanced Melanoma Patients in Brazil

Author(s)

Sorroche, Bruna Pereira ; Teixeira, Renan de Jesus ; Pereira, Caio Augusto Dantas ; Santana, Iara Viana Vidigal ; Vujanovic, Lazar ; Vazquez, Vinicius de Lima ; Arantes, Lidia Maria Rebolho Batista

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: DIAGNOSTICS; v. 13, n. 6, p. 11-pg., 2023-03-01.

Abstract

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) agents are prominent immunotherapies for the treatment of advanced melanoma. However, they fail to promote any durable clinical benefit in a large cohort of patients. This study assessed clinical and molecular predictors of ICB response and survival in advanced melanoma. A retrospective analysis was performed on 210 patients treated with PD-1 or CTLA-4 inhibitors at Barretos Cancer Hospital, Brazil. PD-L1 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissues collected prior to ICB therapy. Patients were divided into responders (complete and partial response and stable disease for more than 6 months) and non-responders (stable disease for less than 6 months and progressive disease). Among them, about 82% underwent anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, and 60.5% progressed after the ICB treatment. Patients that received ICB as first-line therapy showed higher response rates than previously treated patients. Higher response rates were further associated with superficial spreading melanomas and positive PD-L1 expression (>1%). Likewise, PD-L1 positive expression and BRAF V600 mutations were associated with a higher overall survival after ICB therapy. Since ICBs are expensive therapies, evaluation of PD-L1 tumor expression in melanoma patients should be routinely assessed to select patients that are most likely to respond. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/03570-9 - Immune-checkpoint inhibitors: clinical outcome and biomarkers to predict response in Melanoma patients
• Grantee: Bruna Pereira Sorroche
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 21/04100-6 - Immune-checkpoint inhibitors: immunophenotyping and clinical outcome to predict response at Barretos Cancer Hospital
• Grantee: Lidia Maria Rebolho Batista Arantes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers
• FAPESP's process: 19/07111-9 - Immune-checkpoint inhibitors: immunophenotyping and clinical outcome to predict response at Barretos Cancer Hospital
• Grantee: Lidia Maria Rebolho Batista Arantes
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 21/10922-9 - Targeting the epigenetic profile of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating T cells to overcome the immunosuppressive milieu of hypoxic tumor niches
• Grantee: Bruna Pereira Sorroche
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate