肿瘤基质浸润性 T 细胞预测抗 CTLA-4 抗体在 NSCLC 中的疗效

We performed immunohistochemical staining to assess intratumoral tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (iTILs) and stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) expressing CD8 or FOXP3 using surgically obtained specimens. The association between these cells and the clinical efficacy of the treatment with nivolumab plus ipilimumab was evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses in NSCLC patients with PD-L1 <1%. Kaplan-Meier analysis was conducted to assess survival outcomes.

Univariate analysis revealed a significant correlation between progression-free survival and sTIL infiltration, but not iTIL infiltration. Patients who responded to therapy exhibited significantly higher CD8+ and lower FOXP3+ iTIL infiltration, as reported previously. Notably, responders also demonstrated significantly higher infiltration of both CD8+ and FOXP3+ sTILs. Moreover, high stromal infiltration of CD8+ T cells was significantly associated with prolonged overall survival, while high FOXP3+ sTILs infiltration showed a trend toward improved overall survival.

Despite the increased risk of irAEs, patients with high stromal infiltration of CD8+ and FOXP3+ T cells may derive meaningful clinical benefit from anti-CTLA-4 antibody therapy. Assessing these immune parameters could aid in appropriate patient selection and contribute to optimizing therapeutic outcomes.