Elevated PD‐L1 Expression on Circulating Classical Monocytes Upon Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy Is Associated With Increased Plasma Interleukin 5 in Patients With Lung Cancer

Eva Probst; Christian Idel; Jonas Fleckner; Kirstin Plötze-Martin; Dirk Rades; Sabine Bohnet; Daniel Drömann; Karl Ludwig Bruchhage; Klaas Franzen; Ralph Pries

doi:10.21873/anticanres.17569

Elevated PD‐L1 Expression on Circulating Classical Monocytes Upon Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy Is Associated With Increased Plasma Interleukin 5 in Patients With Lung Cancer

Eva Probst, Christian Idel, Jonas Fleckner, Kirstin Plötze-Martin, Dirk Rades, Sabine Bohnet, Daniel Drömann, Karl Ludwig Bruchhage, Klaas Franzen, Ralph Pries^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Abstract

Background/Aim: Lung cancer remains one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Besides established treatment options such as surgery and radio(chemo)therapy, advanced approaches such as anti‑programmed death 1 (PD‑1)/anti‑programmed death ligand 1 (PD‑L1) immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been introduced as effective therapeutic options. In this context, PD‑L1 expression on myeloid cells has been correlated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with cancer. This study aimed to investigate the influence of ICI treatment on the immunologic alterations of circulating monocyte subsets as potential bioliquid indicators for therapy response assessment in patients with lung cancer. Materials and Methods: Flow cytometry was employed to analyze the distribution of circulating CD14/CD16 monocyte subsets and the expression of adhesion molecules CD11a (integrin‑α L; LFA‑1), CD11b (integrin‑α M; Mac‑1), CD11c (integrin‑α X), CX3CR1 (CX3CL1 receptor) and the checkpoint molecule PD‑L1 in 22 patients with lung cancer. Furthermore, plasma concentrations of ICI‑associated cytokine interleukin (IL‑5) were quantified using ELISA the course of therapy. Results: The study revealed a significant increase in intermediate monocyte abundance, coupled with altered adhesion molecule expression and elevated PD‑L1 levels in patients with lung cancer. Moreover, non‑responders exhibited significantly increased plasma IL‑5 levels after one month of ICI therapy. A significant positive correlation was also observed between plasma IL‑5 concentrations and PD‑L1 expression on peripheral blood classical monocytes. Conclusion: The identification of liquid biomarkers, such as peripheral blood monocyte subsets and plasma IL‑5 levels, could serve as valuable indicators for ICI therapy decision‑making and response prediction in lung cancer patients.

Original language	English
Journal	Anticancer Research
Volume	45
Issue number	5
Pages (from-to)	1915-1925
Number of pages	11
ISSN	0250-7005
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.21873/anticanres.17569
Publication status	Published - 05.2025

Research Areas and Centers

Academic Focus: Center for Infection and Inflammation Research (ZIEL)
Research Area: Luebeck Integrated Oncology Network (LION)

DFG Research Classification Scheme

2.21-05 Immunology
2.22-29 Otorlaryngology, Phoniatrics and Audiology
2.22-33 Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy, Radiobiology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.21873/anticanres.17569

Cite this

Probst, E., Idel, C., Fleckner, J., Plötze-Martin, K., Rades, D., Bohnet, S., Drömann, D., Bruchhage, K. L., Franzen, K., & Pries, R. (2025). Elevated PD‐L1 Expression on Circulating Classical Monocytes Upon Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy Is Associated With Increased Plasma Interleukin 5 in Patients With Lung Cancer. Anticancer Research, 45(5), 1915-1925. https://doi.org/10.21873/anticanres.17569

@article{d784233920e241f5a73a35d0b71f4567,

title = "Elevated PD‐L1 Expression on Circulating Classical Monocytes Upon Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy Is Associated With Increased Plasma Interleukin 5 in Patients With Lung Cancer",

abstract = "Background/Aim: Lung cancer remains one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Besides established treatment options such as surgery and radio(chemo)therapy, advanced approaches such as anti‑programmed death 1 (PD‑1)/anti‑programmed death ligand 1 (PD‑L1) immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been introduced as effective therapeutic options. In this context, PD‑L1 expression on myeloid cells has been correlated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with cancer. This study aimed to investigate the influence of ICI treatment on the immunologic alterations of circulating monocyte subsets as potential bioliquid indicators for therapy response assessment in patients with lung cancer. Materials and Methods: Flow cytometry was employed to analyze the distribution of circulating CD14/CD16 monocyte subsets and the expression of adhesion molecules CD11a (integrin‑α L; LFA‑1), CD11b (integrin‑α M; Mac‑1), CD11c (integrin‑α X), CX3CR1 (CX3CL1 receptor) and the checkpoint molecule PD‑L1 in 22 patients with lung cancer. Furthermore, plasma concentrations of ICI‑associated cytokine interleukin (IL‑5) were quantified using ELISA the course of therapy. Results: The study revealed a significant increase in intermediate monocyte abundance, coupled with altered adhesion molecule expression and elevated PD‑L1 levels in patients with lung cancer. Moreover, non‑responders exhibited significantly increased plasma IL‑5 levels after one month of ICI therapy. A significant positive correlation was also observed between plasma IL‑5 concentrations and PD‑L1 expression on peripheral blood classical monocytes. Conclusion: The identification of liquid biomarkers, such as peripheral blood monocyte subsets and plasma IL‑5 levels, could serve as valuable indicators for ICI therapy decision‑making and response prediction in lung cancer patients.",

author = "Eva Probst and Christian Idel and Jonas Fleckner and Kirstin Pl{\"o}tze-Martin and Dirk Rades and Sabine Bohnet and Daniel Dr{\"o}mann and Bruchhage, {Karl Ludwig} and Klaas Franzen and Ralph Pries",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright}2025 The Author(s).",

year = "2025",

month = may,

doi = "10.21873/anticanres.17569",

language = "English",

volume = "45",

pages = "1915--1925",

journal = "Anticancer Research",

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Probst, E, Idel, C , Fleckner, J, Plötze-Martin, K, Rades, D , Bohnet, S , Drömann, D , Bruchhage, KL , Franzen, K & Pries, R 2025, 'Elevated PD‐L1 Expression on Circulating Classical Monocytes Upon Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy Is Associated With Increased Plasma Interleukin 5 in Patients With Lung Cancer', Anticancer Research, vol. 45, no. 5, pp. 1915-1925. https://doi.org/10.21873/anticanres.17569

Elevated PD‐L1 Expression on Circulating Classical Monocytes Upon Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy Is Associated With Increased Plasma Interleukin 5 in Patients With Lung Cancer. / Probst, Eva; Idel, Christian ; Fleckner, Jonas et al.
In: Anticancer Research, Vol. 45, No. 5, 05.2025, p. 1915-1925.

Research output: Journal Articles › Journal articles › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Elevated PD‐L1 Expression on Circulating Classical Monocytes Upon Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy Is Associated With Increased Plasma Interleukin 5 in Patients With Lung Cancer

AU - Probst, Eva

AU - Idel, Christian

AU - Fleckner, Jonas

AU - Plötze-Martin, Kirstin

AU - Rades, Dirk

AU - Bohnet, Sabine

AU - Drömann, Daniel

AU - Bruchhage, Karl Ludwig

AU - Franzen, Klaas

AU - Pries, Ralph

PY - 2025/5

Y1 - 2025/5

N2 - Background/Aim: Lung cancer remains one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Besides established treatment options such as surgery and radio(chemo)therapy, advanced approaches such as anti‑programmed death 1 (PD‑1)/anti‑programmed death ligand 1 (PD‑L1) immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been introduced as effective therapeutic options. In this context, PD‑L1 expression on myeloid cells has been correlated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with cancer. This study aimed to investigate the influence of ICI treatment on the immunologic alterations of circulating monocyte subsets as potential bioliquid indicators for therapy response assessment in patients with lung cancer. Materials and Methods: Flow cytometry was employed to analyze the distribution of circulating CD14/CD16 monocyte subsets and the expression of adhesion molecules CD11a (integrin‑α L; LFA‑1), CD11b (integrin‑α M; Mac‑1), CD11c (integrin‑α X), CX3CR1 (CX3CL1 receptor) and the checkpoint molecule PD‑L1 in 22 patients with lung cancer. Furthermore, plasma concentrations of ICI‑associated cytokine interleukin (IL‑5) were quantified using ELISA the course of therapy. Results: The study revealed a significant increase in intermediate monocyte abundance, coupled with altered adhesion molecule expression and elevated PD‑L1 levels in patients with lung cancer. Moreover, non‑responders exhibited significantly increased plasma IL‑5 levels after one month of ICI therapy. A significant positive correlation was also observed between plasma IL‑5 concentrations and PD‑L1 expression on peripheral blood classical monocytes. Conclusion: The identification of liquid biomarkers, such as peripheral blood monocyte subsets and plasma IL‑5 levels, could serve as valuable indicators for ICI therapy decision‑making and response prediction in lung cancer patients.

AB - Background/Aim: Lung cancer remains one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Besides established treatment options such as surgery and radio(chemo)therapy, advanced approaches such as anti‑programmed death 1 (PD‑1)/anti‑programmed death ligand 1 (PD‑L1) immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been introduced as effective therapeutic options. In this context, PD‑L1 expression on myeloid cells has been correlated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with cancer. This study aimed to investigate the influence of ICI treatment on the immunologic alterations of circulating monocyte subsets as potential bioliquid indicators for therapy response assessment in patients with lung cancer. Materials and Methods: Flow cytometry was employed to analyze the distribution of circulating CD14/CD16 monocyte subsets and the expression of adhesion molecules CD11a (integrin‑α L; LFA‑1), CD11b (integrin‑α M; Mac‑1), CD11c (integrin‑α X), CX3CR1 (CX3CL1 receptor) and the checkpoint molecule PD‑L1 in 22 patients with lung cancer. Furthermore, plasma concentrations of ICI‑associated cytokine interleukin (IL‑5) were quantified using ELISA the course of therapy. Results: The study revealed a significant increase in intermediate monocyte abundance, coupled with altered adhesion molecule expression and elevated PD‑L1 levels in patients with lung cancer. Moreover, non‑responders exhibited significantly increased plasma IL‑5 levels after one month of ICI therapy. A significant positive correlation was also observed between plasma IL‑5 concentrations and PD‑L1 expression on peripheral blood classical monocytes. Conclusion: The identification of liquid biomarkers, such as peripheral blood monocyte subsets and plasma IL‑5 levels, could serve as valuable indicators for ICI therapy decision‑making and response prediction in lung cancer patients.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105004059243&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.21873/anticanres.17569

DO - 10.21873/anticanres.17569

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 40295054

AN - SCOPUS:105004059243

SN - 0250-7005

VL - 45

SP - 1915

EP - 1925

JO - Anticancer Research

JF - Anticancer Research

IS - 5

ER -

Elevated PD‐L1 Expression on Circulating Classical Monocytes Upon Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy Is Associated With Increased Plasma Interleukin 5 in Patients With Lung Cancer

Abstract

Research Areas and Centers

DFG Research Classification Scheme

UN SDGs

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