Abstract 5189
Background
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly lethal disease. Recently, immunotherapy has demonstrated a benefit for a subgroup of patients beyond the second-line and in the first-line setting combined with chemotherapy. However, the majority of patients will not benefit and predictive biomarkers are urgently needed. High baseline neutrophil count (NC) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are unfavorable prognostic factors in SCLC and might also predict for lack of response to immunotherapy. There is data suggesting that activation of the HGF/MET pathway might contribute to the recruitment of immunosuppressor neutrophils in the tumor. Our aim was to evaluate the association between HGF serum levels (sHGF) and NC in SCLC and their impact on outcome.
Methods
Serum samples from SCLC patients were obtained before starting first-line treatment. We used the Quantikine Human HGF Immunoassay to quantify sHGF. All samples were run in duplicates. NC and NLR were obtained from blood test reports before treatment initiation. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 22.0 and Prism 8.1.0. Correlation of variables was assessed by the Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Multivariate analysis was performed with the Cox regression method.
Results
Samples from 105 patients diagnosed with SCLC at our institution were included. 79.1% of the cases were male, 73.3% with extensive stage, and 31.4% had an ECOG score of ≥ 2. Median sHGF, NC and NLR were 1875.38pg/ml, 6440/µl and 5.1 respectively. Patients with baseline NLR > 4 or NC above median had worse median overall survival (mOS), with 7.9 vs 15.3 months (m) (p < 0.001) and 7.2 vs 15.3m (p < 0.001) respectively. sHGF above median values was also correlated with worse mOS (7.6 vs 12.8 m; p = 0.005). Baseline sHGF levels were positively correlated with NC (r = 0.34, p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis for OS, sHGF and NC remained independently associated with poor outcome (HR 1.094; p = 0.001 and HR 1.18; p = 0.003 respectively).
Conclusions
Baseline HGF levels correlate with NC in SCLC, reinforcing the hypothesis of a plausible interplay between HGF/MET axis and the immune system. The role of these parameters as predictive biomarkers of response to immunotherapy in SCLC warrants further investigation.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
E. Arriola: Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: BMS; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Roche; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: MSD; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Pfizer; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: Lilly; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony: AstraZeneca; Research grant / Funding (institution): BMS; Research grant / Funding (institution): Roche; Research grant / Funding (institution): Pfizer; Research grant / Funding (institution): PGDx; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: BMS; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: MSD; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Roche; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Lilly. All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
2045 - The analysis of treatment sequences and clinical outcomes of thymic carcinoma
Presenter: Arakaki Motoko
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4785 - Transcriptomic Difference of Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma
Presenter: Naixin Liang
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
2864 - A Phase II Trial of Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy and Pembrolizumab for Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC)
Presenter: Seoyoung Lee
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5015 - The study of tumor associated exosomes in crosstalk between esophageal carcinoma and lymphatic endothelial cells
Presenter: Weimin Mao
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
1339 - Up-regulation of IBSP expression predicts poor prognosis of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma patients
Presenter: Mingyue Wang
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4083 - PD-L1 expression in primary tumour vs metastatic samples in the Phase 3 MYSTIC study in first-line metastatic (m) NSCLC
Presenter: Niels Reinmuth
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5113 - Assessing the impact of subsequent checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) treatment on overall survival: post hoc analyses from the phase 3 JAVELIN Lung 200 study of avelumab vs docetaxel in platinum-treated locally advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Presenter: Fabrice Barlesi
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4256 - Long-term avelumab treatment in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): post hoc analyses from JAVELIN Solid Tumor
Presenter: Borys Hrinczenko
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4305 - Effectiveness and safety of nivolumab in the treatment of lung cancer patients in France: Updated survival and subgroup analysis from the real-world EVIDENS study
Presenter: Fabrice Barlesi
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
5128 - IO-Synthesise NSCLC: A pooled analysis of real-world survival outcomes for non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with nivolumab in France and Germany
Presenter: Adrien Dixmier
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract