Cellular dynamics in cerebrospinal fluid unveils the key regulators of intracranial response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in NSCLC brain metastases.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Brain metastases (BrM) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) present a significant challenge due to poor prognosis. While immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been standard treatments for NSCLC, their efficacy in BrM is variable, emphasizing the urgent need for predictive biomarkers and fundamental mechanisms.

Methods

Patients with NSCLC and BrM planning to receive ICI therapy were enrolled in the prospective cohort, dynamic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples (n=20) were collected through lumbar puncture and used for single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), and BrM tumors were collected if they have the indications of surgery, with integrating scRNA-seq data from external database (total n=20). Three independent cohorts underwent flow cytometry (n=8), proteomics

SUBMITTER: Li YS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12666088 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature