Lung Cancer Stem Cells From Lymph Nodes Aspirates Express Immunosuppressive Molecules

Abstract

<b>Introduction:</b> Over the past decade, the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) revolutionised the treatment of NSCLC. The biomarkers for ICIs are widely investigated. The immunomodulatory properties of lung cancer stem cells are of interest. In present study, we investigated the presence of immunomodulatory molecules: PD-L1, CD47, CD73, Fas, FasL on mature tumor cells (MTCs) and cancer stem cells (CSCs) in lymph nodes (LNs) aspirates. <b>Methods:</b> LNs aspirates were obtained during EBUS/TBNA procedure of 20 NSCLC patients at different stages of NSCLC. The cells were analyzed by multiparameter flow cytometry. <b>Results:</b> We reported the higher frequency of MTCs and CSCs expressing investigated immunomodulating molecules in metastatic LNs than in non-metastatic (table 1). A geomean fluorescence of CD47 and PD-L1 In metastatic LNs was significantly higher on CSCs than on MTCs (3946 vs 1692; 3109 vs 1231 respectively, p&lt;0.05). <b>Conclusion:</b> Both MTCs and CSCs express different immunomodulatory molecules on their surface. Altogether, it seems that not only PD-1/PD-L1 pathway may lead to tumor growth and metastasis, but other immunomodulatory molecules may be involved in that process.