Association of Baseline Tumor-Specific Neoantigens and CD8⁺ T-Cell Infiltration With Immune-Related Adverse Events Secondary to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Abstract

PURPOSE Recent evidence has shown that higher tumor mutational burden strongly correlates with an increased risk of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). By using an integrated multiomics approach, we further studied the association between relevant tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) features and irAEs. METHODS Leveraging the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System, we extracted cases of suspected irAEs to calculate the reporting odds ratios (RORs) of irAEs for cancers treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). TIME features for 32 cancer types were calculated on the basis of the cancer genomic atlas cohorts and indirectly correlated with each cancer's ROR for irAEs. A separate ICI-treated cohort of non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was used to evaluate the correlation between tissue-based immune markers (CD8+, PD-1/L1+, FOXP3+, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes [TILs]) and irAE occurrence. RESULTS The analysis of 32 cancers and 33 TIME features demonstrated a significant association between irAE RORs and the median number of base insertions and deletions (INDEL), neoantigens (r = 0.72), single-nucleotide variant neoantigens (r = 0.67), and CD8+ T-cell fraction (r = 0.51). A bivariate model using the median number of INDEL neoantigens and CD8 T-cell fraction had the highest accuracy in predicting RORs (adjusted r2 = 0.52, P = .002). Immunoprofile assessment of 156 patients with NSCLC revealed a strong trend for higher baseline median CD8+ T cells within patients' tumors who experienced any grade irAEs. Using machine learning, an expanded ICI-treated NSCLC cohort (n = 378) further showed a treatment duration–independent association of an increased proportion of high TIL (>median) in patients with irAEs (59.7% v 44%, P = .005). This was confirmed by using the Fine-Gray competing risk approach, demonstrating higher baseline TIL density (>median) associated with a higher cumulative incidence of irAEs ( P = .028). CONCLUSION Our findings highlight a potential role for TIME features, specifically INDEL neoantigens and baseline-immune infiltration, in enabling optimal irAE risk stratification of patients.

Case report: Is severe toxicity the price to pay for high sensitivity to checkpoint inhibitors immunotherapy in desmoplastic melanoma?

“…The close association between tumor immunogenicity (mutational burden, baseline tumor-specific neoantigens, and CD8 T-cell Infiltration) and irAE during ICI therapies has been reported by several authors (13,14). Originally conceived to selectively stimulate anti-tumor T cells (15), anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibodies have been shown to induce pan-T cell activation in clinical settings, compromising the host's immune tolerance to healthy self-tissues.…”

Tumor-Agnostic Therapy—The Final Step Forward in the Cure for Human Neoplasms?

“…To address these challenges, a recent modeling study, based on multiomics investigations, found a close correlation between the number of InDel and point mutations of cancer cells, the amount of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and the risk of immune-related adverse events, highlighting the importance of mutational evaluations of neoplasms before indicating combinatorial immune checkpoint therapies. This modeling also suggests that upon the elevated predicted risk of immune-related adverse events, a reduction in the dosage of immune checkpoint inhibitors circumvents the unfolding of their severe side effects [ 169 ].…”