TIM3 expression on tumor cells predicts response to anti-PD-1 therapy for renal cancer

This study aimed to identify novel prognostic biomarker for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients treated with anti-PD-1 therapy, using quantitative multi-immunofluorescence (IF) analysis of tumor immunity. Twenty-five consecutive patients who had metastatic or unresectable RCC treated with anti-PD-1 therapy were studied. The patients were divided into a responder group (n = 12) and a non-responder group (n = 13). Quantitative multi-IF staining was performed on biopsy or surgical kidney samples using a panel of antibodies. Sections were scanned using a Mantra microscope, and the images were analyzed with inForm™ software. Responders had significantly higher rate of TIM3-positive tumor (100% versus 53.9%, p < 0.01) than non-responders. Multi-IF analysis showed that TIM3 expression on tumor cells was most strongly related to response to anti-PD-1 therapy, while some of the known immune-related prognostic factors in RCC (CD45RO, FOXP3, VEGF, PD-L1, PD-L2, CD163) had no significant association. Patients with TIM3-positive tumor showed significantly longer overall survival (not reached median time versus 6.0 months, p < 0.01) and progression-free survival (18.9 versus 1.1 months, p < 0.01) than those with TIM3-negative tumor. Immunohistochemistry study using samples obtained after anti-PD-1 therapy showed infiltration of CD163 macrophages and release of HMGB1, a ligand of TIM3, in necrotic tumor area. In conclusion, our study found clinical correlation between TIM3 expression on tumor cells and response to anti-PD-1 therapy. Further studies are warranted to verify whether TIM3 expression on tumor cells before systemic therapy predicts the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy for RCC in the clinical setting.