Clinical potential of circulating free DNA and circulating tumour cells in patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer treated with pembrolizumab

Immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab, are revolutionizing therapeutic strategies for different cancer types, including non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, only a subset of patients benefits from this therapy, and new biomarkers are needed to select better candidates. In this study, we explored the value of liquid biopsy analyses, including circulating free DNA (cfDNA) and circulating tumour cells (CTCs), as a prognostic or predictive tool to guide pembrolizumab therapy. For this purpose, a total of 109 blood samples were collected from 50 patients with advanced NSCLC prior to treatment onset and at 6 and 12 weeks after the initiation of pembrolizumab. Plasma cfDNA was measured using hTERT quantitative PCR assay. The CTC levels at baseline were also analysed using two enrichment technologies (CellSearch(R) and Parsortix systems) to evaluate the efficacy of both approaches at detecting the presence of programmed cell death ligand 1 on CTCs. Notably, patients with high baseline hTERT cfDNA levels had significantly shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) than those with low baseline levels. Moreover, patients with unfavourable changes in the hTERT cfDNA levels from baseline to 12 weeks showed a higher risk of disease progression. Additionally, patients in whom CTCs were detected using the CellSearch(R) system had significantly shorter PFS and OS than patients who had no CTCs. Finally, multivariate regression analyses confirmed the value of the combination of CTCs and cfDNA levels as an early independent predictor of disease progression, identifying a subgroup of patients who were negative for CTCs, who presented low levels of cfDNA and who particularly benefited from the treatment.

Automated summary

In this study, the value of liquid biopsy analyses, including cfDNA and CTCs, as a prognostic or predictive tool in guiding pembrolizumab therapy for NSCLC was explored. Patients with high baseline cfDNA levels had poorer progression-free survival and overall survival, while those with unfavorable changes in cfDNA levels over 12 weeks had a higher risk of disease progression. Detection of CTCs using the CellSearch(R) system was associated with shorter PFS and OS in patients. The combination of CTCs and cfDNA levels was identified as an early independent predictor of disease progression.