Dr. Moutafi on the Results of a Study Evaluating Biomarkers of Resistance in NSCLC

Myrto Moutafi, MD, MSc, postdoctoral associate, Yale University School of Medicine, member, Rimm Lab, Yale University, discusses the results of a study evaluating biomarkers of resistance in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

During the 2021 SITC Annual Meeting, findings from a study using high-plex digital spatial profiling to potentially discover biomarkers of resistance to checkpoint inhibitors in NSCLC were presented in a virtual poster.

The high-plex digital spatial profiling technique allowed for evaluation of high-plex protein in a quantitative and spatially resolved manner, Moutafi explains. With this technique, the investigators discovered that CD66b that is expressed in the stromal immune molecular compartment is associated with resistance to checkpoint inhibitors in patients with NSCLC. Moreover, the findings were validated by an orthogonal approach in an independent cohort of patients with NSCLC who had received prior checkpoint inhibitor treatment.

The discovery cohort enrolled 58 patients with NSCLC who had prior treatment with checkpoint inhibitors; the validation cohort enrolled 40 patients with NSCLC. Moreover, the non–checkpoint inhibitor treated cohort enrolled 236 patients, Moutafi concludes.