Lukas Boosfeld (Essen), Stephan Lang (Essen), Sven Brandau (Essen), Kirsten Bruderek (Essen), Inga Grünewald (Münster), Stefan Kasper-Virchow (Essen), Cornelius Kürten (Essen), Smiths Sengkwawoh Lueong (Essen)
Introduction Immune check point inhibition (ICI) has revolutionized oncology. Unfortunately, patients with Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are still awaiting the perspective-changing benefits of this therapeutic modality, despite promising data in neoadjuvant settings. Radiological assessment of tumour response to ICI is challenging as it fails to account for tumour viability. Additionally, a metric for the prediction of recurrence remains an unmet clinical need. Building on promising pilot data derived from cfDNA-methylation analysis of HNSCC, the clinical utility of cfDNA-methylation marks as a prognostic indicator for pathological response following ICI and disease recurrence will be evaluated.
Methods Plasma samples from 20 patients who received PDL1-checkpoint-Inhibitor Atezolizumab three weeks before curative surgery as part of a single-arm, Phase-II-study (PIONEER, EudraCT-Number: 2018-000254-21) shall be analyzed. cfDNA-methylation profiles derived from samples acquired at different timepoints shall be analysed with immune-related pathological response and patient follow-up data to identify response and relapse cfDNA-predictors.
Expected Results Pilot data from HNSCC has established the feasibility of cfDNA-methylation analysis from plasma. Based on these preliminary data it is anticipated that cfDNA-methylation-based prognosticators for pathological response and disease recurrence will be identified. This approach could refine surgical decision-making and optimize neoadjuvant ICI strategies.
Conclusion This study aims to establish cfDNA-methylation as a non-invasive tool for the stratification of HNSCC patients in view of ICI treatment and monitoring disease progression to inform timely interventions and guiding personalized therapy approaches.
This research was made possible through the imCORE Network supported by F. Hoffmann-La Roche. The Departments of Otorhinolaryngology and Medical Oncology and the BIT are members of the imCORE Network.
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