Genomic and Transcriptomic Remodeling by Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and the Indicative Role of Acquired INDEL Percentage for nCRT Efficacy in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

The effect of genomic factors on the response of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT), as well as how nCRT influences the genome and transcriptome of ESCC, remain largely unknown. In total, 137 samples from 57 patients with ESCC undergoing nCRT were collected and subjected to whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing analysis. Genetic and clinicopathologic factors were compared between the patients achieving pathologic complete response and patients not achieving pathologic complete response. Genomic and transcriptomic profiles before and after nCRT were analyzed. Codeficiency of the DNA damage repair and HIPPO pathways synergistically sensitized ESCC to nCRT. nCRT induced small INDELs and focal chromosomal loss concurrently. Acquired INDEL% exhibited a decreasing trend with the increase of tumor regression grade (P=.06, Jonckheere's test). Multivariable Cox analysis indicated that higher acquired INDEL% was associated with better survival (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.93; 95% CI, 0.86-1.01; P=.067 for recurrence-free survival [RFS]; aHR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.76-0.98; P=.028 for overall survival [OS], with 1% of acquired INDEL% as unit). The prognostic value of acquired INDEL% was confirmed by the Glioma Longitudinal AnalySiS data set (aHR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.902-0.997; P=.037 for RFS; aHR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.917-1.004; P=.076 for OS). Additionally, clonal expansion degree was negatively associated with patient survival (aHR, 5.87; 95% CI, 1.10-31.39; P=.038 for RFS; aHR, 9.09; 95% CI, 1.10-75.36; P=.041 for OS, with low clonal expression group as reference) and also negatively correlated with acquired INDEL% (Spearman ρ=-0.45; P=.02). The expression profile was changed after nCRT. The DNA replication gene set was downregulated, while the cell adhesion gene set was upregulated after nCRT. Acquired INDEL% was negatively correlated with the enrichment of the DNA replication gene set (Spearman ρ=-0.56; P=.003) but was positively correlated with the enrichment of the cell adhesion gene set (Spearman ρ=0.40; P=.05) in posttreatment samples. nCRT remodels the genome and transcriptome of ESCC. Acquired INDEL% is a potential biomarker to indicate the effectiveness of nCRT and radiation sensitivity.