Predictive biomarkers of response to immune checkpoint-based therapies (ICI) remain a critically unmet need in the management of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The complex interplay of the tumour microenvironment (TME) and the circulating immune response has proven to be challenging to decipher. MicroRNAs have gained increasing attention for their role in post-transcriptional gene expression regulation, particularly because they can have immunomodulatory properties. We evaluated the presence of immune-specific extracellular vesicle (EV) microRNAs in the plasma of patients with metastatic RCC (mRCC) prior to initiation of ICI. We found significantly lower levels of microRNA155-3p (miR155) in responders to ICI, when compared to non-responders. This microRNA has unique immunomodulatory properties, thus providing potential biological rationale for our findings. Our results support further work in exploring microRNAs as potential biomarkers of response to immunotherapy.
Scientific reports. 2024 Apr 13*** epublish ***
Maryam Soleimani, Marisa Thi, Sajjad Janfaza, Gizem Ozcan, Sylwia Mazurek, Guliz Ozgun, Corinne Maurice-Dror, Bernhard Eigl, Kim Chi, Christian Kollmannsberger, Lucia Nappi
Division of Medical Oncology, British Columbia Cancer-Vancouver Cancer Centre, 600 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4E6, Canada., Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand., Vancouver Prostate Centre, Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada., Division of Medical Oncology, British Columbia Cancer-Vancouver Cancer Centre, 600 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4E6, Canada. .