Study Uncovers Why Some Lung Cancers Avoid Immunotherapy

ICB therapy, which stands for immune checkpoint blockade, has become the standard treatment for lung cancer due to its generally positive outcomes. Thus far, high levels of the PD-L1 protein have been the primary means of predicting a positive treatment response. However, many lung cancer tumors have inherently high levels of this protein and still fail to respond to ICB, while others with low levels of the very same protein do respond. Identifying which patients will respond strongly in advance could save valuable time and help patients live longer and healthier lives.

The ICB treatments inhibit the action of PD-L1 and its partner PD1, to increase the action of the immune system against the tumor cells. These two proteins are part of a natural system to avoid autoimmunity, with PD-L1 being typically present in the membrane of the cells (including cancer cells) and, through the interaction with its partner PD-1, present in immune cells, prevent an overaction of the immune system that can be detrimental for the organism. In the context of a tumor, this results in the immune system not killing cancer cells, hence why the ICB treatment attempts to block this contact.

On the other hand, tumors are found with low levels of PD-L1. Without this immune-limiting trick, how are they avoiding a strong immune attack? In a recent publication at the scientific journal Cell Reports Medicine, the team led by Dr. Sanchez-Cespedes reports that many of the tumors with low PD-L1 have developed genetic strategies that avoid the action of the gamma interferon against the tumor cells. The gamma interferon is a powerful stimulator of the immune response secreted by immune cells and, avoiding its action, the tumor cells cannot be killed by the immune system.