Biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitors in solid tumors
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Updated: Aug 28, 2025
Predictive Immune Modeling of Solid Tumors
Published on: February 25, 2020
Vidit Kapoor1, William James Kelly2
1Mays Cancer Center, UT Health San Antonio, 7979 Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA.
Abstract:
The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in solid organ malignancies has become widespread in the last decade. Accumulating evidence shows broad survival benefit as compared to traditional chemotherapies. At the same time, a need has emerged to stratify these drugs in various patient populations and histologies. Consequently, various immune biomarkers have been proposed to help in selecting patients for these therapies. Here, we review the evidence pertaining to biomarkers including programmed death-ligand 1, defective mismatch repair, tumor mutational burden, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, gene expression profiles, circulating blood cells, circulating DNA and the gut microbiome. The value of PD-L1 testing in certain malignancies, such as lung and urothelial cancer is highlighted as well as emerging data from trials such as GARNET and CheckMate142.
Insights
Immune checkpoint inhibitors offer survival benefits in solid tumors. Biomarkers like PD-L1 and tumor mutational burden help select patients for these advanced cancer therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
Background:
- Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are increasingly used for solid organ malignancies, showing survival advantages over chemotherapy.
- Patient and histology stratification is crucial for optimizing ICI efficacy.
- Biomarkers are needed to guide patient selection for ICI therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence for various biomarkers used in selecting patients for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
- To highlight the utility of specific biomarkers in different cancer types and clinical trials.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of immune biomarkers for ICI therapy.
- Focus on programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR), tumor mutational burden (TMB), tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), gene expression profiles (GEPs), circulating biomarkers, and the gut microbiome.
- Analysis of data from clinical trials like GARNET and CheckMate142.
Main Results:
- Evidence supports the use of PD-L1 testing in lung and urothelial cancers.
- Other biomarkers including dMMR, TMB, and TILs show promise for patient stratification.
- Emerging data from trials like GARNET and CheckMate142 are refining biomarker utility.
Conclusions:
- Several biomarkers can help stratify patients for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in solid tumors.
- PD-L1 testing is valuable in specific malignancies, with ongoing research exploring other biomarkers and trial data.
