2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer (Posters)-EP07.04. Telomerase-Based Circulating Tumor Cell Detection for the Treatment Response Prediction in Patients with Non-small-Cell Lung Cancer

EP07.04. Telomerase-Based Circulating Tumor Cell Detection for the Treatment Response Prediction in Patients with Non-small-Cell Lung Cancer - PDF(Slides)

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A study conducted by researchers at Juntendo University in Japan has found that monitoring circulating tumor cells (CTCs) using a telomerase-based assay can predict the response to treatment in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). CTCs are different sub-populations of cells found in the blood of cancer patients that can provide valuable information about the progression of the disease. The study involved using a genetically engineered adenovirus called TelomeScan to label CTCs based on their telomerase activity. The researchers improved the assay to efficiently detect different subtypes of CTCs, including those expressing the immune checkpoint molecule PD-L1 and undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).<br /><br />The study included 100 patients with advanced NSCLC, and CTCs were successfully detected in 92.4% of them. The telomerase-based assay showed high diagnostic value, with sensitivity/specificity rates of 63.0%/75.0% for total CTCs and 75.0%/100% for PD-L1-CTCs compared to control individuals. Baseline CTC counts, PD-L1-EMT-CTC counts, and changes in PD-L1-CTC counts during treatment were associated with poor prognosis and risk of recurrence.<br /><br />Furthermore, dynamic changes in PD-L1-CTC counts after two treatment cycles were significantly associated with treatment response, with a decrease in counts observed in patients with partial response and an increase in counts observed in patients with progressive disease.<br /><br />The researchers concluded that TelomeScan-guided CTC measurements can serve as an early and sensitive predictor of poor prognosis in NSCLC patients at high risk of recurrence. Specifically, the detection of PD-L1-CTCs could be a useful marker for predicting treatment response and guiding the choice of precision medicines. The findings of this study highlight the potential of telomerase-based CTC detection as a non-invasive liquid biopsy tool for predicting treatment response in NSCLC patients.

Asset Subtitle

Kazuaki Hoshi

Meta Tag

Speaker Kazuaki Hoshi

Topic Early-Stage NSCLC: Progress in Pathology

Keywords

circulating tumor cells

telomerase-based assay

non-small-cell lung cancer

progression of the disease

genetically engineered adenovirus

immune checkpoint molecule PD-L1

epithelial-mesenchymal transition

advanced NSCLC

poor prognosis

liquid biopsy tool