Predicting effect of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma by detecting plasma metabolite based on UHPLC-MS

Front Immunol. 2024 Apr 18:15:1370771. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1370771. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Introduction: Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors therapy has become a promising treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), while the therapeutic efficacy varies significantly among effects for individual patients are significant difference. Unfortunately, specific predictive biomarkers indicating the degree of benefit for patients and thus guiding the selection of suitable candidates for immune therapy remain elusive.no specific predictive biomarkers are available indicating the degree of benefit for patients and thus screening the preferred population suitable for the immune therapy.

Methods: Ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) considered is an important method for analyzing biological samples, since it has the advantages of high rapid, high sensitivity, and high specificity. Ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) has emerged as a pivotal method for analyzing biological samples due to its inherent advantages of rapidity, sensitivity, and specificity. In this study, potential metabolite biomarkers that can predict the therapeutic effect of HCC patients receiving immune therapy were identified by UHPLC-MS.

Results: A partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model was established using 14 glycerophospholipid metabolites mentioned above, and good prediction parameters (R2 = 0.823, Q2 = 0.615, prediction accuracy = 0.880 and p < 0.001) were obtained. The relative abundance of glycerophospholipid metabolite ions is closely related to the survival benefit of HCC patients who received immune therapy.

Discussion: This study reveals that glycerophospholipid metabolites play a crucial role in predicting the efficacy of immune therapy for HCC.

Keywords: UHPLC-MS; anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors therapy; hepatocellular carcinoma; plasma metabolite; prognosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • B7-H1 Antigen* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • B7-H1 Antigen* / blood
  • Biomarkers, Tumor* / blood
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / blood
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* / immunology
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
  • Female
  • Glycerophospholipids / blood
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Liver Neoplasms* / blood
  • Liver Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms* / immunology
  • Male
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Metabolomics / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / antagonists & inhibitors

Substances

  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • CD274 protein, human
  • PDCD1 protein, human
  • Glycerophospholipids

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC; 91959201), the Funding Program Project of Interdisciplinary Research Team of Jilin University (No.419021420365), the Interdisciplinary project of the First Hospital of Jilin University (No. 04034000002), the Special Fund for Clinical Research of Jilin Provincial Institute of Health Management, and the Bethune Special Project of Jilin Province Science and Technology Department (No. 3D5204167428).