What is it about?
Despite advances in immunotherapy for localized clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), predicting which patients will benefit from treatment remains a challenge. In this study, we evaluated tumor PD-L1 expression and circulating KIM-1 levels in patients treated with adjuvant Nivolumab plus Ipilimumab (NIVO+IPI), Nivolumab alone, or placebo. We found that patients with PD-L1 expression ≥1% experienced improved outcomes with NIVO+IPI, while higher baseline KIM-1 levels were associated with poorer prognosis in untreated patients but not in those receiving therapy. Using a novel image-based platform to analyze tumor slides, we characterized immune and stromal cell composition, revealing that specific cellular patterns correlated with response to treatment. These findings suggest that integrating tumor and blood biomarkers with the tumor microenvironment could guide patient selection and optimize therapeutic strategies with NIVO+IPI.
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Photo by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases on Unsplash
Why is it important?
This research is important because the response to immune checkpoint therapies in kidney cancer varies widely, and the reasons for this variation are not yet fully understood. By analyzing tumor PD-L1 expression, circulating KIM-1 levels, and the cellular composition of the tumor microenvironment, we can gain insight into the biological mechanisms that influence treatment outcomes. This approach not only helps identify which patients are most likely to benefit from Nivolumab plus Ipilimumab but also advances our understanding of how the immune system interacts with tumors, aiding the development of more precise and effective immunotherapies.
Perspectives
This study combines tumor and blood biomarkers with the tumor microenvironment to better predict response to immune checkpoint therapy. I find it interesting how combining tumor PD-L1, circulating KIM-1, and detailed analysis of the tumor microenvironment can provide a more complete picture of which patients are likely to respond. This approach moves beyond looking at single markers in isolation and begins to capture the complexity of immune-tumor interactions.
Deepthi Chowbene
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: 68 Integrative biomarkers analysis from the phase 3 CheckMate 914 trial of nivolumab plus ipilimumab or nivolumab versus placebo for adjuvant clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), November 2024, BMJ,
DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-sitc2024.0068.
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