Evolution of delayed resistance to immunotherapy in a melanoma responder

Nat Med. 2021 Jun;27(6):985-992. doi: 10.1038/s41591-021-01331-8. Epub 2021 May 3.

Abstract

Despite initial responses1-3, most melanoma patients develop resistance4 to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). To understand the evolution of resistance, we studied 37 tumor samples over 9 years from a patient with metastatic melanoma with complete clinical response to ICB followed by delayed recurrence and death. Phylogenetic analysis revealed co-evolution of seven lineages with multiple convergent, but independent resistance-associated alterations. All recurrent tumors emerged from a lineage characterized by loss of chromosome 15q, with post-treatment clones acquiring additional genomic driver events. Deconvolution of bulk RNA sequencing and highly multiplexed immunofluorescence (t-CyCIF) revealed differences in immune composition among different lineages. Imaging revealed a vasculogenic mimicry phenotype in NGFRhi tumor cells with high PD-L1 expression in close proximity to immune cells. Rapid autopsy demonstrated two distinct NGFR spatial patterns with high polarity and proximity to immune cells in subcutaneous tumors versus a diffuse spatial pattern in lung tumors, suggesting different roles of this neural-crest-like program in different tumor microenvironments. Broadly, this study establishes a high-resolution map of the evolutionary dynamics of resistance to ICB, characterizes a de-differentiated neural-crest tumor population in melanoma immunotherapy resistance and describes site-specific differences in tumor-immune interactions via longitudinal analysis of a patient with melanoma with an unusual clinical course.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • B7-H1 Antigen / antagonists & inhibitors
  • B7-H1 Antigen / genetics*
  • B7-H1 Antigen / immunology
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 / genetics
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Immunotherapy / adverse effects
  • Male
  • Melanoma / genetics
  • Melanoma / immunology
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Melanoma / therapy*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / genetics
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / immunology
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / therapy
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / immunology
  • Phylogeny
  • Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / genetics*
  • Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / immunology
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects

Substances

  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • NGFR protein, human
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor