Major pathologic response on biopsy (MPRbx) in patients with advanced melanoma treated with anti-PD-1: Evidence for an early, on-therapy biomarker of response

J. E. Stein, A. Soni, L. Danilova, T. R. Cottrell, T. F. Gajewski, F. S. Hodi, S. Bhatia, W. J. Urba, W. H. Sharfman, M. Wind-Rotolo, R. Edwards, E. J. Lipson, J. M. Taube

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: With increasing anti-PD-1 therapy use in patients with melanoma and other tumor types, there is interest in developing early on-treatment biomarkers that correlate with long-term patient outcome. An understanding of the pathologic features of immune-mediated tumor regression is key in this endeavor. Materials and methods: Histologic features of immune-related pathologic response (irPR) following anti-PD-1 therapy were identified on hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained slides in a discovery cohort of pre- and on-treatment specimens from n = 16 patients with advanced melanoma. These features were used to generate an irPR score [from 0 = no irPR features to 3 = major pathologic response on biopsy (MPRbx, ≤10% residual viable tumor)]. This scoring system was then tested for an association with objective response by RECIST1.1 and overall survival in a prospectively collected validation cohort of pre- and on-treatment biopsies (n = 51 on-treatment at 4-week timepoint) from melanoma patients enrolled on the nivolumab monotherapy arm of CA209-038 (NCT01621490). Results: Specimens from responders in the discovery cohort had features of immune-activation (moderate-high TIL densities, plasma cells) and wound-healing/tissue repair (neovascularization, proliferative fibrosis) compared to nonresponders, (P ≤ 0.021, for each feature). In the validation cohort, increasing irPR score associated with objective response (P = 0.009) and MPRbx associated with increased overall survival (n = 51; HR 0.13; 95%CI, 0.054-0.31, P = 0.015). Neither tumoral necrosis nor pretreatment histologic features were associated with response. Eight of 16 (50%) of patients with stable disease showed irPR features, two of which were MPRbx, indicating a disconnect between pathologic and radiographic features at the 4-week on-therapy timepoint for some patients. Conclusions: Features of immune-mediated tumor regression on routine H&E-stained biopsy slides from patients with advanced melanoma correlate with objective response to anti-PD-1 and overall survival. An on-therapy biopsy may be particularly clinically useful for informing treatment decisions in patients with radiographic stable disease. This approach is inexpensive, straightforward, and widely available.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbermdz019
Pages (from-to)589-596
Number of pages8
JournalAnnals of Oncology
Volume30
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2019

Keywords

  • MPR
  • MPRbx
  • PD-1
  • melanoma
  • pathologic response
  • pathology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hematology
  • Oncology

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