Abstract 177P
Background
The efficacy of lung cancer immunotherapy with immune check inhibitors is well documented in clinical trials and in real life. However response to this therapy is individual and the biomarkers are continually investigated. The character of local tumour environment seems to be not without significance. We previously presented the usefulness of BAL in the evaluation of immune status of NSCLC patients. The aim of this study was to present the results of immune cells analysis in lymph nodes (LNs) aspirates obtained by EBUS/TBNA.
Methods
36 patients with primary lung cancer were investigated- an additional aspirate was taken for analysis by EBUS/TBNA during diagnostic bronchoscopy. The proportion of immune cells were determined in LNs aspirates and, for comparison, in peripheral blood (PB) by multiparameter flow cytometry. A panel of monoclonal antibodies was used for detection of: CD3, CD4, CD8 cells, NKT, NK, dendritic cells (DCs), regulatory Tcells (Tregs) and the expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 on lymphocytes and DCs.
Results
We found significant differences in the proportion of the main types of lymphocytes and dendritic cells between LNs aspirates and PB- the proportion of cells was higher in LNs than in PB and was highest in metastatic LNs (Table). Statistical analysis revealed important correlations between regulatory immune cells in metastatic lymph nodes. This may be evidence of consistent immune response in this local microenvironment. Significant differences (Mann Whitney test) in the proportion of immune cells in the blood (PB) and LNs. Table: 177P
| Cells | PB | LNs | P<0.05 |
| CD3 | 17.25 | 28.45 | * |
| CD4 | 10.05 | 16.10 | * |
| CD8 | 6.85 | 9.95 | |
| NKT | 0.10 | 0.80 | * |
| NK | 2.35 | 3.35 | |
| DCs | 0.04 | 0.71 | * |
| PDL-1+ DCs | 1.64 | 58.65 | * |
| PD-1+ DCs | 1.82 | 40.51 | * |
| PD-1+ T cells | 10.41 | 25.02 | * |
| Dregs | 0.22 | 22.50 | * |
| Effector T cells | 2.40 | 5.80 | * |
| Th17 | 27.45 | 34.15 | |
| Tregs | 0.30 | 1.15 |
Conclusions
The results of this study confirmed the advantage of immune cells analysis in LNs aspirates obtained by EBUS/TBNA in the same time during lung cancer diagnosis.
Legal entity responsible for the study
J. Domagala-Kulawik.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.