Background <p>Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) control lung cancer in patients with <i>EGFR</i> mutations, but resistance develops over time. Patients with high levels of genetic mutations rapidly acquire EGFR-TKI resistance. T cell immunity recognizes gene mutation products as neoantigens that effectively suppress mutation levels by eliminating clones with more mutations; this process is known as cancer immune editing. Therefore, EGFR-TKI-resistant clones may be less likely to form in cases with active antitumor T cell immune responses. However, the relationship between EGFR-TKI resistance and antitumor T cell response in patients with <i>EGFR</i> mutation remains unclear. To determine the relationship between the duration of EGFR-TKI resistance acquisition and antitumor T cell immunity, and the effect of EGFR-TKIs on T cell immunity.</p> Methods <p>This prospective observational study enrolled 43 patients who received osimertinib. Blood samples were collected prior to and following 4 weeks of EGFR-TKI administration.</p> Results <p>The median PFS and OS for the 37 patients were 24.8 and 32.9&#xa0;months, respectively. Patients with higher CXCR3<sup>+</sup>CCR4<sup>−</sup>CCR6<sup>+</sup>CD4<sup>+</sup> T cell levels exhibited significantly enhanced PFS (<i>p</i> = 0.002) and OS (<i>p</i> = 0.0006). Other T cell subsets (Th1, Th2, Th17, and CD8<sup>+</sup>) exhibited no significant correlation with PFS. The percentage of CXCR3<sup>+</sup>CCR4<sup>−</sup>CCR6<sup>+</sup>CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells was significantly reduced with tumor volume reduction (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001).</p> Conclusions <p>T cell immunity affects the time required to acquire resistance after EGFR-TKI treatment. Pretreatment CXCR3<sup>+</sup>CCR4<sup>−</sup>CCR6<sup>+</sup>CD4<sup>+</sup> T cell cluster was significantly associated with PFS after osimertinib treatment, likely predicting osimertinib efficacy. Antitumor T cell immunity may be crucial for preventing the acquisition of EGFR-TKI resistance.</p>

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Correlation between T cell immunity and the duration of EGFR-TKI resistance acquisition in patients harboring EGFR mutations

  • Atsuto Mouri,
  • Kyoichi Kaira,
  • Ou Yamaguchi,
  • Ayako Shiono,
  • Yu Miura,
  • Kosuke Hashimoto,
  • Satoshi Yamasaki,
  • Fuyumi Nishihara,
  • Hisao Imai,
  • Kunihiko Kobayashi,
  • Hiroshi Kagamu

摘要

Background

Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) control lung cancer in patients with EGFR mutations, but resistance develops over time. Patients with high levels of genetic mutations rapidly acquire EGFR-TKI resistance. T cell immunity recognizes gene mutation products as neoantigens that effectively suppress mutation levels by eliminating clones with more mutations; this process is known as cancer immune editing. Therefore, EGFR-TKI-resistant clones may be less likely to form in cases with active antitumor T cell immune responses. However, the relationship between EGFR-TKI resistance and antitumor T cell response in patients with EGFR mutation remains unclear. To determine the relationship between the duration of EGFR-TKI resistance acquisition and antitumor T cell immunity, and the effect of EGFR-TKIs on T cell immunity.

Methods

This prospective observational study enrolled 43 patients who received osimertinib. Blood samples were collected prior to and following 4 weeks of EGFR-TKI administration.

Results

The median PFS and OS for the 37 patients were 24.8 and 32.9 months, respectively. Patients with higher CXCR3+CCR4CCR6+CD4+ T cell levels exhibited significantly enhanced PFS (p = 0.002) and OS (p = 0.0006). Other T cell subsets (Th1, Th2, Th17, and CD8+) exhibited no significant correlation with PFS. The percentage of CXCR3+CCR4CCR6+CD4+ T cells was significantly reduced with tumor volume reduction (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

T cell immunity affects the time required to acquire resistance after EGFR-TKI treatment. Pretreatment CXCR3+CCR4CCR6+CD4+ T cell cluster was significantly associated with PFS after osimertinib treatment, likely predicting osimertinib efficacy. Antitumor T cell immunity may be crucial for preventing the acquisition of EGFR-TKI resistance.