Clinical significance of peripheral TCR and BCR repertoire diversity in EGFR/ALK wild-type NSCLC treated with anti-PD-1 antibody

Introduction TCR and BCR repertoire diversity plays a critical role in tumor immunity. Thus, analysis of TCR and BCR repertoires might help predict the clinical efficacy of anti-PD-1 treatment. Methods Blood samples from 30 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with anti-PD-1 antibody were collected before and six weeks after treatment initiation. The clinical significance of TCR and BCR repertoire diversity in peripheral blood was evaluated in all the enrolled patients (n = 30) or in the subset with (n = 10) or without (n = 20) EGFR/ALK mutation. Results TCR and BCR diversity was significantly correlated at baseline (R = 0.65; P = 1.6 x 10(-4)) and on treatment (R = 0.72; P = 1.2 x 10(-5)). Compared to non-responders (SD or PD), responders (PR) showed significantly decreased TCR and BCR diversity after treatment in the EGFR/ALK wild-type subset (P = 0.0014 and P = 0.034, respectively), but not in all the enrolled patients. The post-treatment reduction in TCR and BCR repertoire diversity was also significantly associated with the occurrence of adverse events in the EGFR/ALK wild-type subset (P = 0.022 and P = 0.014, respectively). Patients with more reduced TCR diversity showed better progression-free survival (PFS) in the EGFR/ALK wild-type subset (P = 0.011) but not in the mutant subset. Conclusions These findings suggest the clinical significance of changes in peripheral TCR and BCR repertoire diversity after anti-PD-1 treatment in patients with NSCLC without EGFR/ALK mutation. Monitoring of the peripheral TCR and BCR repertoires may serve as a surrogate marker for the early detection of EGFR/ALK wild-type NSCLC patients who would benefit from anti-PD-1 treatment.

Automated summary

The diversity of TCR and BCR repertoires plays a critical role in tumor immunity, and analyzing them may help predict the clinical efficacy of anti-PD-1 treatment in NSCLC patients. Changes in peripheral TCR and BCR repertoire diversity after anti-PD-1 treatment could serve as a surrogate marker for early detection of EGFR/ALK wild-type NSCLC patients who would benefit from the treatment.