Patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may benefit from immune checkpoint inhibition, but many end up with immune-related side effects, highlighting a need to identify potential risk factors. Patients with higher T cell receptor (TCR) richness in their peripheral blood have improved outcomes, but the characteristics of TCR and their role in side effects is poorly understood.
In the LONESTAR clinical trial, researchers led by Mehmet Altan, M.D., Alexandre Reuben, Ph.D., John Heymach, M.D., Ph.D., and Jianjun Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., used TCR sequencing methods on peripheral blood samples from patients with NSCLC receiving dual immune checkpoint therapy, characterizing T cells in relation to treatment response and side effects. Patients with a higher TCR diversity in their blood before treatment were more likely to respond and also had a lower risk of experiencing side effects. Knowing a patient’s peripheral blood TCR variety could help guide patient selection for dual immune checkpoint treatment.