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Issels, R.D.* ; Nößner, E. ; Lindner, L.H.* ; Schmidt, M.* ; Albertsmeier, M.* ; Blay, J.Y.* ; Stutz, E.* ; Xu, Y.* ; Buecklein, V.* ; Altendorf-Hofmann, A.* ; Abdel-Rahman, S.* ; Mansmann, U.* ; von Bergwelt-Baildon, M.* ; Knoesel, T.*

Immune infiltrates in patients with localised high-risk soft tissue sarcoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy without or with regional hyperthermia: A translational research program of the EORTC 62961-ESHO 95 randomised clinical trial.

Eur. J. Cancer 158, 123-132 (2021)
DOI PMC
Open Access Green as soon as Postprint is submitted to ZB.
Background: The EORTC 62961-ESHO 95 randomised trial showed improved long-term survival of patients with high-risk soft-tissue sarcoma by adding regional hyperthermia to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We hypothesised that immune infiltrate of patients treated with neoadjuvant therapy associate with clinical outcome. Methods: Tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and CD8, FOXP3, PD-1, and PD-L1 were evaluated in sequential biopsies of patients after four cycles of therapy. Results: From a subgroup of 109 patients who had been randomised between July 1997 and November 2006 to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (53 patients) or neoadjuvant chemotherapy with regional hyperthermia (56 patients), 137 biopsies were obtained. TILs increased in paired second biopsies independent of treatment allocation (p < 0.001). FOXP3 regulatory T cells decreased (p = 0.002), and PD-L1 expression of tumours became undetectable. In the multivariate analysis, post-treatment high TILs correlated to LPFS (HR: 0.34; 95% CI 0.15–0.75; p = 0.008) and DFS (HR: 0.38; 95% CI 0.17–0.82; p = 0.015). In comparing post-treatment immune infiltrate between treatment arms, tumour response was associated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy with regional hyperthermia (p = 0.013) and high TILs (p = 0.064). High CD8 cell infiltration was associated with improved LPFS (HR: 0.27; 95% CI 0.09–0.79; Log-rank p = 0.011) and DFS (HR: 0.25; 95% CI 0.09–0.73; Log-rank p = 0.006). Improved survival at 10 years was associated with immune infiltrate after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with regional hyperthermia. Conclusion: Preoperative therapy re-programs a non-inflamed tumour at baseline into an inflamed tumour. The post-treatment immune infiltrate became predictive for clinical outcomes. The combination with regional hyperthermia primes the tumour microenvironment, enabling enhanced anti-tumour immune activity in high-risk soft tissue sarcomas. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00003052.
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Corresponding Author
Keywords Checkpoint Blockade ; Chemotherapy ; Hyperthermia ; Immune Infiltrate ; Immunology ; Neoadjuvant ; Soft Tissue Sarcoma; Tumor-cells; Heat-shock-protein-70; Pd-1; Lymphocytes; Expression
ISSN (print) / ISBN 0959-8049
e-ISSN 1879-0852
Journal European Journal of Cancer
Quellenangaben Volume: 158, Issue: , Pages: 123-132 Article Number: , Supplement: ,
Publisher Elsevier
Publishing Place The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford Ox5 1gb, Oxon, England
Non-patent literature Publications
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
Institute(s) CF Immunoanalytics (IMA)
Grants European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma Group (EORTC -STBSG)