Discovery of acquired molecular signature on immune checkpoint inhibitors in paired tumor tissues

Background Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) has an emerging role in several types of cancer. However, the mechanisms of acquired resistance (AR) to ICI have not been elucidated yet. To identify these mechanisms, we analyzed the pre- and post-ICI paired tumor samples in patients with AR. Methods Six patients with renal cell carcinoma, urothelial cell carcinoma, or head and neck cancer, who showed an initial response to ICI followed by progression and had available paired tissue samples, were retrospectively analyzed. Whole exome sequencing, RNA sequencing, and multiplex immunohistochemistry were performed on pre-treatment and resistant tumor samples. Results The median time to AR was 370 days (range, 210 to 739). Increased expression of alternative immune checkpoints including TIM3, LAG3, and PD-1 as well as increased CD8(+) tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were observed in post-treatment tumor than in pre-treatment tumor of a renal cell carcinoma patient. In contrast, CD8(+) T cells and immunosuppressive markers were all decreased at AR in another patient with human papillomavirus-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. This patient had an evident APOBEC-associated signature, and the tumor mutation burden increased at AR. Resistant tumor tissue of this patient harbored a missense mutation (E542K) in PIK3CA. No significant aberrations of antigen-presenting machinery or IFN-gamma pathway were detected in any patient. Conclusions Our study findings suggest that the observed increase in immunosuppressive markers after ICI might contribute to AR. Moreover, APOBEC-mediated PIK3CA mutagenesis might be an AR mechanism. To validate these mechanisms of AR, further studies with enough sample size are required.

Automated summary

The increase in immunosuppressive markers observed after ICI treatment may contribute to acquired resistance (AR), and APOBEC-mediated PIK3CA mutation could be another mechanism of AR. Further studies with sufficient sample size are needed to validate these mechanisms.