Proportions of blood-borne Vδ1+ and Vδ2+ T-cells are associated with overall survival of melanoma patients treated with ipilimumab

Abstract

Human γδ T-cells possess regulatory and cytotoxic capabilities, and could potentially influence the efficacy of immunotherapies. We analysed the frequencies of peripheral γδ T-cells, including their most prominent subsets (Vδ1+ and Vδ2+ cells) and differentiation states in 109 melanoma patients and 109 healthy controls. We additionally analysed the impact of γδ T-cells on overall survival (OS) calculated from the first dose of ipilimumab in melanoma patients. Higher median frequencies of Vδ1+ cells and lower median frequencies of Vδ2+ cells were identified in patients compared to healthy subjects (Vδ1+: 30% versus 15%, Vδ2+: 39% versus 64%, both p < 0.001). Patients with higher frequencies of Vδ1+ cells (≥30%) had poorer OS (p = 0.043) and a Vδ1+ differentiation signature dominated by late-differentiated phenotypes. In contrast, higher frequencies of Vδ2+ cells (≥39%) were associated with longer survival (p = 0.031) independent of the M category or lactate dehydrogenase level. Patients with decreasing frequencies of Vδ2+ cells under ipilimumab treatment had worse OS and a lower rate of clinical benefit than patients without such decreases. Therefore, we suggest frequencies of both Vδ1+ and Vδ2+ cells as candidate biomarkers for outcome in melanoma patients following ipilimumab. Further studies are needed to validate these results and to clarify whether they represent prognostic associations or whether γδ T-cells are specifically and/or functionally linked to the mode of action of ipilimumab.

Keywords: Biomarker; Immunotherapy; Ipilimumab; Melanoma; Survival; γδ T-cells.