HSPG2 Mutation Association with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Outcome in Melanoma and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Simple Summary Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) markedly improve the survival benefits of advanced melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Nevertheless, only a subset of patients could benefit from such a therapy. Novel and effective clinical biomarkers are needed to assess ICI treatment efficacy. Heparan sulfate proteoglycan 2 (HSPG2) is frequently mutated in melanoma and NSCLC. In this study, we comprehensively integrated the pretreatment somatic mutational profiles and clinical information of both tumors and observed that HSPG2 mutations were associated with favorable tumor immunogenicity and immunotherapeutic efficacy. Our study provides a potential clinical molecular biomarker for evaluating ICI therapy responses. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) markedly promote the survival outcome of advanced melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Clinically, favorable ICI treatment efficacy is noticed only in a smaller proportion of patients. Heparan sulfate proteoglycan 2 (HSPG2) frequently mutates in both tumors. Herein, we aim to investigate the immunotherapeutic and immunological roles of HSPG2 mutations in melanoma and NSCLC. A total of 631 melanoma samples and 109 NSCLC samples with both somatic mutational profiles and clinical immunotherapy data were curated. In addition, by using The Cancer Genome Atlas data, genomic and immunological traits behind HSPG2 mutations were elucidated. Melanoma patients with HSPG2 mutations had a markedly extended ICI outcome than other patients. An association between HSPG2 mutations and the improved outcome was further confirmed in NSCLC. In addition, an elevated ICI response rate was presented in HSPG2-mutated NSCLC patients (81.8% vs. 29.7%, p = 0.002). Subsequent analyses revealed that HSPG2-mutated patients had a favorable abundance of response immunocytes, an inferior abundance of suppression immunocytes, enhanced mutational burden, and interferon response-relevant signaling pathways. We uncovered that HSPG2 mutations were predictive of a better ICI response and associated with preferable immunogenicity, which may be considered as a genomic determinant to customize biotherapy strategies.

Automated summary

Immune checkpoint inhibitors significantly improve the survival outcomes of advanced melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. This study identifies HSPG2 mutations as potential clinical biomarkers for evaluating the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. HSPG2 mutations are associated with favorable tumor immunogenicity and immunotherapeutic efficacy.