Impacts of pembrolizumab therapy on immune phenotype in patients with high-grade neuroendocrine neoplasms.

ABSTRACT: High grade neuroendocrine neoplasms (G3 NENs) are rare aggressive tumors with limited treatment options. Twenty-one previously treated patients with metastatic extra-pulmonary G3 NENs were treated with pembrolizumab. Baseline tumor samples were assessed for PD-L1 and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). Peripheral blood samples drawn pre-treatment, prior to cycle three, and at disease progression were analyzed by flow cytometry. One patient achieved partial response, two had stable disease, and 18 exhibited progressive disease. The partially responding patient did not progress after 392 days, and the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 59 days. Longer PFS correlated independently with higher pre-treatment peripheral blood T-cell counts and lower pre-treatment activation state (CD69

SUBMITTER: MacFarlane AW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8195815 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature