Tumor antigen processing and presentation is a key correlate of ICB efficacy in patients with SCLC. As antigen presentation machinery is frequently epigenetically suppressed in SCLC, this study defines a targetable mechanism by which we might improve clinical benefit of ICB for patients with SCLC.

CheckMate 032, a multicenter, open-label, phase 1/2 trial evaluating nivolumab alone or with ipilimumab was the largest study of ICB alone in patients with SCLC. We performed comprehensive RNA sequencing of 286 pretreatment SCLC tumor samples, assessing outcome on the basis of defined SCLC subtypes (SCLC-A, -N, -P, and -Y), and expression signatures associated with durable benefit, defined as progression-free survival more than or equal to 6 months. Potential biomarkers were further explored by immunohistochemistry.

None of the subtypes were associated with survival. Antigen presentation machinery signature (p = 0.000032) and presence of more than or equal to 1% infiltrating CD8+ T cells by immunohistochemistry (hazard ratio = 0.51, 95% confidence interval: 0.27-0.95) both correlated with survival in patients treated with nivolumab. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed the association between durable benefit from immunotherapy and antigen processing and presentation. Analysis of epigenetic determinants of antigen presentation identified LSD1 gene expression as a correlate of worse survival outcomes for patients treated with either nivolumab or the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab. Conclusions: Tumor antigen processing and presentation is a key correlate of ICB efficacy in patients with SCLC. As antigen presentation machinery is frequently epigenetically suppressed in SCLC, this study defines a targetable mechanism by which we might improve clinical benefit of ICB for patients with SCLC.