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Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy

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Open Access 01-05-2024 | Checkpoint Inhibitors | Research

Efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors differs in various status of carcinoma: a study based on 29 cohorts with 3255 participants

Authors: Chunlan Wu, Yujun Ke, Luying Wan, Xianhe Xie

Published in: Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy | Issue 5/2024

Abstract

Background

Pre-clinical data have revealed that viral infection, such as Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Human Papilloma virus (HPV), may lead to the development of “hot” or “immune-sensitive” tumors, which may impact the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICIs). Therefore, This study aimed to investigate the impact of viral status on the efficacy of ICIs.

Methods

Electronic databases were searched to identify relevant trials. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) measured by hazard ratio (HR). Stratified analyses were accomplished based on viral types, treatment regimens, and patient locations.

Results

A total of 3255 participants were recruited, including 252 cases of gastric cancer, 156 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, 1603 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma, and 1244 cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Pooled results demonstrated a significant association between viral infection and favorable outcomes in patients receiving ICIs, including improved OS [HR = 0.67, 95%CI (0.57–0.79), P < 0.0001], increased ORR [OR = 1.43, 95%CI (1.14–1.80), P = 0.0018], and a trend toward enhanced PFS [HR = 0.75, 95%CI (0.56–1.00), P = 0.05]. In subgroup analyses, patients treated with ICIs who were exposed to HBV/HCV or HPV infection exhibited an evidently superior OS without heterogeneity, compared to those without infection.

Conclusions

This study indicated that the presence of viral infection was evidently associated with improved outcomes in cancer patients undergoing ICIs, particularly in cases of HBV/HCV and HPV infections.

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Title: Efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors differs in various status of carcinoma: a study based on 29 cohorts with 3255 participants
Authors: Chunlan Wu
Yujun Ke
Luying Wan
Xianhe Xie
Publication date: 01-05-2024
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Checkpoint Inhibitors
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Epstein-Barr Virus
Gastric Cancer
Gastric Cancer
Published in: Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy / Issue 5/2024
Print ISSN: 0340-7004
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0851
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-024-03663-z

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Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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