Integrated immunological analysis of a successful conversion of locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma to resectability with neoadjuvant therapy

Won Jin Ho, Gaurav Sharma, Qingfeng Zhu, Genevieve Stein-O'brien, Jennifer Durham, Robert Anders, Aleksandra Popovic, Guanglan Mo, Ihab Kamel, Matthew Weiss, Elizabeth Jaffee, Elana J. Fertig, Mark Yarchoan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer death worldwide with a minority of patients being diagnosed early enough for curative-intent interventions. We report the first use of preoperative cabozantinib plus nivolumab to successfully downstage what presented as unresectable HCC as part of an ongoing phase 1b study. Preoperative treatment with cabozantinib and nivolumab led to >99% reduction in alpha-fetoprotein,-37.3% radiographic reduction by RECIST 1.1 and a near complete pathologic response (80% to 100% necrosis). An integrated immunological analysis was performed on the post-treatment surgical tumor sample and matched pre-treatment and post-treatment peripheral blood samples with high-dimensional imaging and cytometry techniques. Bayesian non-negative matrix factorization (CoGAPS, Coordinated Gene Activity in Pattern Sets) and self-organizing map (FlowSOM) algorithms were used to distinguish changes in functional markers across cellular neighborhoods in the single cell data sets. Brisk immunological infiltration into the tumor microenvironment was observed in non-random, organized cellular neighborhoods. Systemically, combination therapy led to marked promotion of effector cytotoxic T cells and effector memory helper T cells. Natural killer cells also increased with therapy. The patient remains without disease recurrence and with a normal alpha-fetoprotein approximately 2 years from presentation. Our study provides proof-of-concept that borderline resectable or locally advanced HCC warrants consideration of downstaging with effective neoadjuvant systemic therapy for subsequent curative resection.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere000932
JournalJournal for immunotherapy of cancer
Volume8
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 20 2020

Keywords

  • combination
  • computational biology
  • drug therapy
  • gastrointestinal neoplasms
  • immunotherapy
  • tumor microenvironment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Cancer Research

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