Emerging Blood-Based Biomarkers for Predicting Immunotherapy Response in NSCLC
Ana Oitabén1,2,3, Pablo Fonseca1,4, María J Villanueva1,5
1Translational Oncology Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), Sergas-Uvigo, 36204 Vigo, Spain.
Abstract:
Immunotherapy with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) has demonstrated a profitable performance for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) cancer treatment in some patients; however, there is still a percentage of patients in whom immunotherapy does not provide the desired results regarding beneficial outcomes. Therefore, obtaining predictive biomarkers for ICI response will improve the treatment management in clinical practice. In this sense, liquid biopsy appears as a promising method to obtain samples in a minimally invasive and non-biased way. In spite of its evident potential, the use of these circulating biomarkers is still very limited in the real clinical practice, mainly due to the huge heterogeneity among the techniques, the lack of consensus, and the limited number of patients included in these previous studies. In this work, we review the pros and cons of the different proposed biomarkers, such as soluble PD-L1, circulating non-coding RNA, circulating immune cells, peripheral blood cytokines, and ctDNA, obtained from liquid biopsy to predict response to ICI treatment at baseline and to monitor changes in tumor and tumor microenvironment during the course of the treatment in NSCLC patients.
Insights
Predicting immunotherapy response in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is crucial. Liquid biopsy offers promising biomarkers, like ctDNA, to guide immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment decisions.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) show efficacy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), but patient response varies.
- Predictive biomarkers are needed to optimize ICI treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes.
- Liquid biopsy presents a minimally invasive approach for biomarker acquisition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current liquid biopsy-based biomarkers for predicting ICI response in NSCLC.
- To evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of various circulating biomarkers.
- To discuss the potential of liquid biopsy in clinical practice for NSCLC immunotherapy.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on liquid biopsy biomarkers for ICI response in NSCLC.
- Analysis of circulating biomarkers including soluble PD-L1, non-coding RNA, immune cells, cytokines, and ctDNA.
- Evaluation of biomarker utility at baseline and during treatment monitoring.
Main Results:
- Various liquid biopsy biomarkers show potential for predicting ICI response in NSCLC.
- Challenges include technical heterogeneity, lack of consensus, and small study cohorts.
- Soluble PD-L1, ctDNA, and circulating RNAs are among the promising candidates.
Conclusions:
- Liquid biopsy holds significant promise for non-invasive prediction and monitoring of ICI treatment in NSCLC.
- Standardization of techniques and larger validation studies are essential for clinical implementation.
- Biomarkers from liquid biopsy can aid in personalized NSCLC treatment strategies.
