监测接受免疫检查点抑制剂/化疗联合治疗的晚期小细胞肺癌患者的血液免疫细胞

In this exploratory prospective observational study on 40 small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients treated with a combination of chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors, blood immune cells were characterized by multi-color flow cytometry at the baseline and at the third therapy cycle.

The numbers of neutrophils and of T-, B-, and NK cells, as well as the frequency of HLA-DR low monocytes, 6-SulfoLacNAc (slan)+ non-classical monocytes and circulating dendritic cell (DC) subtypes were determined. The prognostic value of the parameters was evaluated by the patient's survival analysis with overall survival (OS) as the primary endpoint.

In addition, blood cell parameters from SCLC patients were compared to those from non-SCLC (NSCLC). The global median OS of patients was 10. 4 1. 1 months. Disease progression (15% of patients) correlated with a higher baseline neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), more HLA-DR low monocytes, and lower NK cell and DC numbers. The risk factors for poor OS were the presence of brain/liver metastases, a baseline NLR 6. 1, HLA-DR low monocytes 21% of monocytes, slan+ non-classical monocytes < 0. 12%, and/or CD1c+ myeloid DC < 0. 05% of leukocytes.

Lymphocytic subpopulations did not correlate with OS. When comparing biomarkers in SCLC versus NSCLC, SCLC had a higher frequency of brain/liver metastases, a higher NLR, the lowest DC frequencies, and lower NK cell numbers. Brain/liver metastases had a substantial impact on the survival of SCLC patients.

At the baseline, 45% of SCLC patients, but only 24% of NSCLC patients, had between three and five risk factors. A high basal NLR, a high frequency of HLA-DR low monocytes, and low levels of slan+ non-classical monocytes were associated with poor survival in all lung cancer histotypes.

Thus, the blood immune cell signature might contribute to a better prediction of SCLC patient outcomes and may uncover the pathophysiological peculiarities of this tumor entity.