Frontiers in Immunology (Sep 2023)

A novel [89Zr]-anti-PD-1-PET-CT to assess response to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in lung cancer

  • Ander Puyalto,
  • Ander Puyalto,
  • Ander Puyalto,
  • María Rodríguez-Remírez,
  • María Rodríguez-Remírez,
  • María Rodríguez-Remírez,
  • Inés López,
  • Inés López,
  • Fabiola Iribarren,
  • Fabiola Iribarren,
  • Jon Ander Simón,
  • Jon Ander Simón,
  • Jon Ander Simón,
  • Marga Ecay,
  • Marga Ecay,
  • María Collantes,
  • María Collantes,
  • Anna Vilalta-Lacarra,
  • Anna Vilalta-Lacarra,
  • Alejandro Francisco-Cruz,
  • Jose Luis Solórzano,
  • Jose Luis Solórzano,
  • Sergio Sandiego,
  • Iván Peñuelas,
  • Iván Peñuelas,
  • Iván Peñuelas,
  • Alfonso Calvo,
  • Alfonso Calvo,
  • Alfonso Calvo,
  • Daniel Ajona,
  • Daniel Ajona,
  • Daniel Ajona,
  • Ignacio Gil-Bazo,
  • Ignacio Gil-Bazo,
  • Ignacio Gil-Bazo,
  • Ignacio Gil-Bazo,
  • Ignacio Gil-Bazo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1272570
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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BackgroundHarnessing the anti-tumor immune system response by targeting the program cell death protein (PD-1) and program cell death ligand protein (PD-L1) axis has been a major breakthrough in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) therapy. Nonetheless, conventional imaging tools cannot accurately assess response in immunotherapy-treated patients. Using a lung cancer syngeneic mouse model responder to immunotherapy, we aimed to demonstrate that [89Zr]-anti-PD-1 immuno-PET is a safe and feasible imaging modality to assess the response to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in NSCLC.Materials and methodsA syngeneic mouse model responder to anti-PD-1 therapy was used. Tumor growth and response to PD-1 blockade were monitored by conventional 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]-FDG) PET scans. Additionally, tumor lymphocyte infiltration was analyzed by the use of an [89Zr]-labeled anti-PD-1 antibody and measured as 89Zr tumor uptake.ResultsConventional [18F]-FDG-PET scans failed to detect the antitumor activity exerted by anti-PD-1 therapy. However, [89Zr]-anti-PD-1 uptake was substantially higher in mice that responded to PD-1 blockade. The analysis of tumor-infiltrating immune cell populations and interleukins demonstrated an increased anti-tumor effect elicited by activation of effector immune cells in PD-1-responder mice. Interestingly, a positive correlation between [89Zr]-anti-PD-1 uptake and the proportion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) was found (Cor = 0.8; p = 0.001).ConclusionOur data may support the clinical implementation of immuno-PET as a promising novel imaging tool to predict and assess the response of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in patients with NSCLC.

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