Circulating low density neutrophils are associated with resistance to anti-PD1 immunotherapy in squamous head and neck cancer

Arrazubi, VirginiaGoñi Irigoyen, SaioaGonzález Borja, IranzuHernández García, IreneArasanz Esteban, HugoPérez Sanz, JairoBocanegra Gondán, Ana IsabelKochan, GrazynaEscors Murugarren, DavidRuiz de Azúa, YeraniElizalde, Jesús MaríaViúdez, AntonioVera García, Ruth2024-04-292023Arrazubi, V., Goñi, S., González-Borja, I., Hernandez-Garcia, I., Arasanz, H., Pérez-Sanz, J., Bocanegra, A. I., Kochan, G., Escors, D., Ruiz de Azúa, Y., Elizalde, J. M., Viúdez, A., Vera, R. (2023) Circulating low density neutrophils are associated with resistance to anti-PD1 immunotherapy in squamous head and neck cancer. Head & Neck: Journal for the Sciences and Specialities of the Head and Neck, 45(12), 3075-3085. https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.27536.1043-307410.1002/hed.27536https://academica-e.unavarra.es/handle/2454/48042Background: Identification of predictive biomarkers to Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in head and neck cancer (HNSCC) is an unmet need. Methods: This was a prospective observational study including 25 patients with HNSCC treated with immunotherapy or chemotherapy after a prior platinum-based regimen. Low density neutrophils (LDNs) and serum markers were analyzed. Results: In the immunotherapy cohort, patients with high LDN levels had a shorter progression free survival (PFS) (1.8 months vs. 10.9 months; *p = 0.034). Also, progressors showed higher percentage of LDNs compared to non-progressors although significance was not reached (mean 20.68% vs. 4.095%, p = 0.0875). These findings were not replicated in patients treated with chemotherapy. High levels of interleukin-7 (IL7) were correlated with a significantly longer overall survival (OS) (13.47 months 3.51 vs. months, *p = 0.013). Conclusions: High baseline circulating LDNs and low IL7 could identify a subset of patients intrinsically refractory to ICIs as monotherapy in HNSCC.application/pdfeng© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.BiomarkerHead and neck cancer (HNC)ImmunotherapyLow density neutrophils (LDN)PredictiveCirculating low density neutrophils are associated with resistance to anti-PD1 immunotherapy in squamous head and neck cancerinfo:eu-repo/semantics/article2024-04-29info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess