The Role of the Immune Metabolic Prognostic Index in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) in Radiological Progression during Treatment with Nivolumab

Simple Summary Identifying reliable prognostic biomarkers of progression in the early phases of treatment is crucial in patients undergoing immune checkpoints inhibitors (ICI) administration for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). With this aim, in this study we combined the prognostic power of the degree of systemic inflammation (depicted by peripheral inflammation indexes), the quantification of the metabolically active tumor burden (estimated using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography) as well as their combination in NSCLC patients receiving immune checkpoints inhibitors. This combined approach could be used to improve the risk stratification and the subsequent clinical management in NSCLC patients treated with immune checkpoints inhibitors. An emerging clinical need is represented by identifying reliable biomarkers able to discriminate between responders and non-responders among patients showing imaging progression during the administration of immune checkpoints inhibitors for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the present study, we analyzed the prognostic power of peripheral-blood systemic inflammation indexes and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) in this clinical setting. In 45 patients showing radiological progression (defined as RECIST 1.1 progressive disease) during Nivolumab administration, the following lab and imaging parameters were collected: neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived-NLR (dNLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), platelets-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic inflammation index (SII), maximum standardized uptake value, metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG). MTV and SII independently predicted OS. Their combination in the immune metabolic prognostic index (IMPI) allowed the identification of patients who might benefit from immunotherapy continuation, despite radiological progression. The combination of FDG PET/CT volumetric data with SII also approximates the immune-metabolic response with respect to baseline, providing additional independent prognostic insights. In conclusion, the degree of systemic inflammation, the quantification of the metabolically active tumor burden, and their combination might disclose the radiological progression in NSCLC patients receiving Nivolumab.

Automated summary

Identifying reliable prognostic biomarkers for progression and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is essential. This study combined systemic inflammation indexes and metabolically active tumor burden quantification using FDG PET/CT to predict radiological progression and potential benefit from immunotherapy continuation in NSCLC patients receiving Nivolumab. The combination of these factors in the immune metabolic prognostic index (IMPI) allowed for better risk stratification and clinical management in this patient population.