[Correlation Study on Expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutations]

Effect on Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer after Combination of Driver Gene Mutations and Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Immunotherapy as Well as Chemotherapy

Background

We aimed to reveal the correlation between pathological indicators and PD-L1, between gene mutation status in lung cancer through clinico-pathological data and lung cancer-related gene mutation and PD-L1 expression analysis.

Methods

The study was conducted in Jinhua Municipal Central Hospital, Zhejiang, China from 2017 to 2022. PD-L1 testing and targeted gene mutations detection were evaluated. The clinical characteristics of these non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) samples have been obtained. The groups (LUAD, n=142; LUSC, n=143) were grouped according to clinico-pathological features and PD-L1 expression (Yes/No or High/Low), and the clinico-pathological and genetic and molecular features and correlation with PD-L1 expression were compared across the above groups. Comparisons and analyses were made between different treatment schemes.

Results

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD, n=142) and lung squamous carcinoma (LUSC, n=143) samples were enrolled (median age: 64 years old). Pleural invasion and M staging were significantly different from PD-L1 alterations (P<0.05). The percentage of patients with PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS)≥50% was 36.24% and the percentage of patients with PD-L1 TPS<50% was 29.53%. The percentage of patients with PD-L1 high-expressed and treated by immunotherapy was 75.93% and 63.41% experienced Partial Response/Complete Response. The mutations ratio of EGFR, ALK, KRAS, MET, RET and TP53 were 28.86%, 1.34%, 6.04%, 0.67%, 1.34% and 0.67%, respectively. KRAS mutation was significantly different from PD-L1 alterations (P<0.01).

Conclusion

There are individual differences in PD-L1 expression, which can also vary depending on the different clinical features. Specific molecular features correlate with differential PD-L1 expression and may influence the response to therapy.

Predictive value of PD-L1 and TMB for short-term efficacy prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer and construction of prediction models

Objective

To investigate the correlation between programmed death ligand 1(PD-L1), tumor mutation burden (TMB) and the short-term efficacy and clinical characteristics of anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor combination chemotherapy in NSCLC patients. The efficacy of the prediction model was evaluated.

Methods

A total of 220 NSCLC patients receiving first-line treatment with anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor combined with chemotherapy were retrospectively collected. The primary endpoint was short-term efficacy ORR. The correlation between short-term efficacy, PD-L1, TMB, and clinical characteristics using χ2 test or t-test was evaluated. Screen the independent prognostic factors using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, and construct a nomogram prediction model using the "rms" package in R software. Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to evaluate the independent Prognostic factors and the prediction model. Using decision curve analysis (DCA) to verify the superiority of the prediction model.

Results

The mean values of PD-L1, TMB, neutrophils, lymphocytes, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and albumin were the highest in the ORR group, PD-L1 expression and TMB correlated with epidermal growth factor receptor expression. Multivariate analyses showed that PD-L1, TMB, and neutrophil were independent prognostic factors for ORR. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) values of the ROC constructed based on these three indicators were 0.7104, 0.7139, and 0.7131, respectively. The AUC value under the ROC of the nomogram model was 0.813. The DCA of the model showed that all three indicators used together to build the prediction model of the net return were higher than those of the single indicator prediction model.

Conclusion

PD-L1, TMB, and neutrophils are independent prognostic factors for short-term efficacy. The nomogram prediction model constructed using these three indicators can further improve predictive efficacy of ICIs in patients with NSCLC.

NUT Carcinoma of the Lung：A Case report and Literature Analysis

NUT carcinoma is a rare, highly aggressive cancer that feature as the rearrangement of the nuclear protein in the testis (NUT) gene on chromosome 15q14, and its pathogenesis and treatment is not yet clear. In this case, we report a 40-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with primary pulmonary NUT carcinoma in The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. A tumor was found at the right hilus pulmonis when his physical examination with chest pain for half a month. Histopathology confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization technique for the NUT carcinoma. After chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy were given, the patient died. The overall survival time was 4.7 months. Combined with the existing literature, we retrospective report the clinical and pathological characteristics and treatment strategies of the rare lung NUT carcinoma.