The paradoxical prognostic effects of T-cell-derived circulating DNA in EGFR-mutated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer involve the crosstalk between heme biosynthesis and immune microenvironment.

ABSTRACT: The paradoxical impact of T-cell-derived circulating DNA (T-cirDNA) and prognostication in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been reported. Further exploration was conducted in 158 EGFR-mutated NSCLC participants who received EGFR inhibitors, correlated with tumor PD-L1 score, CD8 tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and bulk RNA sequencing. We categorized T-cirDNA levels into three groups based on a previous study: undetectable (26.8%), low (≤ 1% ratio; 36.6%), and high (> 1% ratio; 36.6%). Undetectable and high T-cirDNA groups were independent factors correlated with favorable outcomes. The presence of intra-tumoral CD8 TILs (≥ 1%) was also an independent unfavorable prognostic factor; however, it had the lowest proportion in the low T-cirDNA group (16%). Tumor-immune mic

SUBMITTER: Zungsontiporn N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12534490 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature