[HTML][HTML] T-cell CX3CR1 expression as a dynamic blood-based biomarker of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors

T Yamauchi, T Hoki, T Oba, V Jain, H Chen… - Nature …, 2021 - nature.com
T Yamauchi, T Hoki, T Oba, V Jain, H Chen, K Attwood, S Battaglia, S George, G Chatta…
Nature communications, 2021nature.com
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have revolutionized treatment for various cancers;
however, durable response is limited to only a subset of patients. Discovery of blood-based
biomarkers that reflect dynamic change of the tumor microenvironment, and predict
response to ICI, will markedly improve current treatment regimens. Here, we investigate
CX3C chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1), a marker of T-cell differentiation, as a predictive
correlate of response to ICI therapy. Successful treatment of tumor-bearing mice with ICI …
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have revolutionized treatment for various cancers; however, durable response is limited to only a subset of patients. Discovery of blood-based biomarkers that reflect dynamic change of the tumor microenvironment, and predict response to ICI, will markedly improve current treatment regimens. Here, we investigate CX3C chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1), a marker of T-cell differentiation, as a predictive correlate of response to ICI therapy. Successful treatment of tumor-bearing mice with ICI increases the frequency and T-cell receptor clonality of the peripheral CX3CR1+CD8+ T-cell subset that includes an enriched repertoire of tumor-specific and tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, an increase in the frequency of the CX3CR1+ subset in circulating CD8+ T cells early after initiation of anti-PD-1 therapy correlates with response and survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Collectively, these data support T-cell CX3CR1 expression as a blood-based dynamic early on-treatment predictor of response to ICI therapy.
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