2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer (Posters)-EP03.03. Decoding the Immune Dysfunction of Cancer Cachexia in Lung Cancer Patients

Pdf Summary

The study aimed to understand the impact of cancer cachexia on T and NK cell function in lung cancer patients. The researchers enrolled 20 lung cancer patients and conducted a comprehensive analysis of 10 cachectic patients and 10 noncachectic patients. Techniques such as flow cytometry, ELISA, and multiplex immunoassays were used.<br /><br />The preliminary results revealed that lung cancer cachexia leads to a decrease in the proliferation of natural killer (NK) cells and an increase in T cytotoxic (Tc) cell proliferation compared to noncachectic patients. The activated Tc and NK cells showed higher percentages of CD25 activation markers, while the activated T helper cells showed a lower percentage of HLA-DR activation markers.<br /><br />Furthermore, cancer cachexia patients had a decrease in the secretion of IFN-γ following in vitro stimulation. The serum of cancer cachexia patients showed increased levels of GITR, GM-CSF, and IL-10, while the levels of immune checkpoint molecules such as CTLA-4, PD-1, PD-L2, IL-4, and IL-17A were reduced. These findings suggest alterations in T and NK cell function, as well as changes in immune checkpoint molecules and cytokines in cancer cachexia patients.<br /><br />The study has limitations due to the small number of patients and the heterogeneity of the noncachectic cohort. However, the preliminary results highlight the potential contribution of cancer cachexia to the impairment of the immune response in lung cancer patients.<br /><br />Overall, this study sheds light on the immune dysfunction associated with cancer cachexia in lung cancer patients. Further research with a larger patient population is needed to confirm and expand upon these findings.

Asset Subtitle

Laila Roisman

Meta Tag

Speaker Laila Roisman

Topic Tumor Biology: Translational Biology - IO

Keywords

cancer cachexia

T cell function

NK cell function

lung cancer patients

proliferation of NK cells

proliferation of Tc cells

activation markers

IFN-γ secretion

immune checkpoint molecules

immune dysfunction