TY - JOUR
T1 - Beyond Programmed Death-Ligand 1
T2 - B7-H6 Emerges as a Potential Immunotherapy Target in SCLC
AU - Thomas, Portia L.
AU - Groves, Sarah M.
AU - Zhang, Yun Kai
AU - Li, Jia
AU - Gonzalez-Ericsson, Paula
AU - Sivagnanam, Shamilene
AU - Betts, Courtney B.
AU - Chen, Hua Chang
AU - Liu, Qi
AU - Lowe, Cindy
AU - Chen, Heidi
AU - Boyd, Kelli L.
AU - Kopparapu, Prasad R.
AU - Yan, Yingjun
AU - Coussens, Lisa M.
AU - Quaranta, Vito
AU - Tyson, Darren R.
AU - Iams, Wade
AU - Lovly, Christine M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
PY - 2021/7
Y1 - 2021/7
N2 - Introduction: The programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) immune checkpoint inhibitors, atezolizumab and durvalumab, have received regulatory approval for the first-line treatment of patients with extensive-stage SCLC. Nevertheless, when used in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy, these PD-L1 inhibitors only improve overall survival by 2 to 3 months. This may be due to the observation that less than 20% of SCLC tumors express PD-L1 at greater than 1%. Evaluating the composition and abundance of checkpoint molecules in SCLC may identify molecules beyond PD-L1 that are amenable to therapeutic targeting. Methods: We analyzed RNA-sequencing data from SCLC cell lines (n = 108) and primary tumor specimens (n = 81) for expression of 39 functionally validated inhibitory checkpoint ligands. Furthermore, we generated tissue microarrays containing SCLC cell lines and patient with SCLC specimens to confirm expression of these molecules by immunohistochemistry. We annotated patient outcomes data, including treatment response and overall survival. Results: The checkpoint protein B7-H6 (NCR3LG1) exhibited increased protein expression relative to PD-L1 in cell lines and tumors (p < 0.05). Higher B7-H6 protein expression correlated with longer progression-free survival (p = 0.0368) and increased total immune infiltrates (CD45+) in patients. Furthermore, increased B7-H6 gene expression in SCLC tumors correlated with a decreased activated natural killer cell gene signature, suggesting a complex interplay between B7-H6 expression and immune signature in SCLC. Conclusions: We investigated 39 inhibitory checkpoint molecules in SCLC and found that B7-H6 is highly expressed and associated with progression-free survival. In addition, 26 of 39 immune checkpoint proteins in SCLC tumors were more abundantly expressed than PD-L1, indicating an urgent need to investigate additional checkpoint targets for therapy in addition to PD-L1.
AB - Introduction: The programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) immune checkpoint inhibitors, atezolizumab and durvalumab, have received regulatory approval for the first-line treatment of patients with extensive-stage SCLC. Nevertheless, when used in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy, these PD-L1 inhibitors only improve overall survival by 2 to 3 months. This may be due to the observation that less than 20% of SCLC tumors express PD-L1 at greater than 1%. Evaluating the composition and abundance of checkpoint molecules in SCLC may identify molecules beyond PD-L1 that are amenable to therapeutic targeting. Methods: We analyzed RNA-sequencing data from SCLC cell lines (n = 108) and primary tumor specimens (n = 81) for expression of 39 functionally validated inhibitory checkpoint ligands. Furthermore, we generated tissue microarrays containing SCLC cell lines and patient with SCLC specimens to confirm expression of these molecules by immunohistochemistry. We annotated patient outcomes data, including treatment response and overall survival. Results: The checkpoint protein B7-H6 (NCR3LG1) exhibited increased protein expression relative to PD-L1 in cell lines and tumors (p < 0.05). Higher B7-H6 protein expression correlated with longer progression-free survival (p = 0.0368) and increased total immune infiltrates (CD45+) in patients. Furthermore, increased B7-H6 gene expression in SCLC tumors correlated with a decreased activated natural killer cell gene signature, suggesting a complex interplay between B7-H6 expression and immune signature in SCLC. Conclusions: We investigated 39 inhibitory checkpoint molecules in SCLC and found that B7-H6 is highly expressed and associated with progression-free survival. In addition, 26 of 39 immune checkpoint proteins in SCLC tumors were more abundantly expressed than PD-L1, indicating an urgent need to investigate additional checkpoint targets for therapy in addition to PD-L1.
KW - B7-H6
KW - Checkpoint molecules
KW - Immune checkpoint inhibitor
KW - Immunotherapy
KW - Small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85106271613&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85106271613&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jtho.2021.03.011
DO - 10.1016/j.jtho.2021.03.011
M3 - Article
C2 - 33839362
AN - SCOPUS:85106271613
SN - 1556-0864
VL - 16
SP - 1211
EP - 1223
JO - Journal of Thoracic Oncology
JF - Journal of Thoracic Oncology
IS - 7
ER -