Resistin is associated with overall survival in non-small cell lung cancer patients during nivolumab treatment

Whole-Blood Gene Expression Profiles Correlate with Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

In metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), the clinical response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is limited in a subset of patients and the need exists to identify non-invasive, blood-based, predictive biomarkers for responses. We performed RNA sequencing using whole-blood samples prospectively collected from 49 patients with mRCC prior to the administration of ipilimumab (IPI) and/or nivolumab (NIVO) to determine whether gene expression profiles were associated with responses. An analysis from 33 mRCC patients with complete responses (n = 5), partial responses (n = 14), and progressive disease (n = 14) showed 460 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to immune responses between the responder and non-responder groups with significant differences. A set of 14 genes generated from the initial 460 DEGs accurately classified responders (sensitivity 94.7% and specificity 50.0%) while consensus clustering defined clusters with significantly differing response rates (92.3% and 35.0%). These clustering results were replicated in a cohort featuring 16 additional SD patients (49 total patients): response rates were 95.8% and 48.0%. Collectively, whole-blood gene expression profiles derived from mRCC patients treated with ICIs clearly differed by response and hierarchical clustering using immune response DEGs accurately classified responder patients. These results suggest that such screening may serve as a predictor for ICI responses in mRCC patients.

The Role of the Adipokine Resistin in the Pathogenesis and Progression of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Obesity is a civilization disease associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and some malignancies. The results concerning the relationship between obesity and epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) are inconclusive. The higher incidence of neoplasms in obese subjects has led to the development of the adipokine hypothesis. Omental adipocyte cells interact with cancer cells, promoting their migration and metastasis via the secretion of adipokines, growth factors, and hormones. One of the adipokines is resistin. It was shown in vitro that resistin stimulates the growth and differentiation of ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, it increases the level of angiogenesis factors, e.g., matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and vascular epithelial growth factor (VEGF). Additionally, resistin induces epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness in EOC cell lines. A positive correlation has been shown between a higher level of resistin expression and the stage of histological differentiation of EOC or the occurrence of lymph node metastases. In addition, the overexpression of resistin has been found to act as an independent factor determining disease-free survival as well as overall survival in EOC patients. Growing evidence supports the finding that resistin plays an important role in some mechanisms leading to the progression of EOC, though this issue still requires further research.

Serum levels of VCAM-1 are associated with survival in patients treated with nivolumab for NSCLC

BACKGROUND

High circulating levels of cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been supposed to act as a negative prognostic factor. Here, we explored the predictive role of pre-treatment levels of CAMs in previously treated patients receiving nivolumab for NSCLC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventy one patients with advanced NSCLC, treated with nivolumab at the dose of 3 mg/kg every 14 days, were enrolled. Maximum follow-up time was 3 years. Serum levels of Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and Intracellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were measured at baseline and before each nivolumab administration. Endpoints of the study were a composite outcome of survival ≥2 years or absence of disease progression at the end of the follow-up, and the overall survival.

RESULTS

Composite outcome and overall survival were positively associated with VCAM-1 baseline levels and with the reduction of VCAM-1 during the treatment. After adjustment for potential confounders, the change in VCAM-1 serum levels during the treatment was an independent predictor of overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS

High baseline serum levels of VCAM-1 are associated with a longer survival in patients treated with nivolumab as second line treatment for NSCLC. Surviving patients experience also a significant reduction in CAMs expression during the treatment. Hence, CAMs might be promising prognostic factors in patients with NSCLC underoing immunotherapy.