Ki-67 expression in anti-programmed cell death protein-1 antibody-bound CD8+ T cells as a predictor of clinical benefit

• DOI: 10.1007/s12672-025-02060-x
• Publication Date: 2025-03-18T11:03:08Z
• Authors: Toshiaki Tsurui; Masahiro Hosonuma; Aya Sasaki; Yuuki Maruyama; Yasunobu Amari; Eiji Funayama; Kohei Tajima; Hitoshi Toyoda; Junya Isobe; Yoshitaka Yamazaki; Yuta Baba; Midori Shida; Yuko Udaka; Emiko Mura; Risako Suzuki; Nana Iriguchi; Tomoyuki Ishiguro; Yuya Hirasawa; Ryotaro Ohkuma; Masahiro Shimokawa; Hirotsugu Ariizumi; Yutaro Kubota; Atsushi Horiike; Satoshi Wada; Atsuo Kuramasu; Mayumi Tsuji; Yuji Kiuchi; Takuya Tsunoda; Kiyoshi Yoshimura
• Keywords: Immune checkpoint

Developing predictive biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is important. Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) receptor occupancy by anti-PD-1 antibodies on circulating T cells varies among patients. However, the association between exhaustion of these antibody-bound and clinical efficacy ICIs remains unknown. Therefore, present study was aimed at evaluating this association. This prospective cohort included patients with advanced non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESCC) who received pembrolizumab therapy. Peripheral blood samples were collected during second cycle chemotherapy. We analyzed relationship markers in pembrolizumab-bound (PB) response. A total 21 analyzed, including 12 NSCLC 9 ESCC. The expression Ki-67 PB-CD8+ TCM TEM negatively correlated both response overall survival. can serve as a biomarker benefit Our suggests that analyzing could be novel approach to predict outcomes PD-1 blockade