Open Access

Somatic mutations in genes associated with mismatch repair predict survival in patients with metastatic cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors

  • Authors:
    • Yongping Liu
    • Lin Chen
    • Shenli Zhang
    • Yimei Shu
    • Qiufeng Qi
    • Ming Zhu
    • Yun Peng
    • Yang Ling
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 17, 2020     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2020.11888
  • Article Number: 27
  • Copyright: © Liu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as one of the most promising therapeutic options for patients with advanced cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic value of somatic mutations in mismatch repair (MMR) genes in metastatic cancers after ICI treatment, as well as their association with tumor mutational burden (TMB). Information regarding gene mutations in mismatch repair and the survival time of patients with advanced cancer following ICI treatment was collected from the cBioPortal database. The prognostic value of somatic mutations in MMR genes and the association between the mutation status and TMB score were analyzed among multiple types of cancer. Somatic mutation frequency in the MMR genes was identified to be 7% among all patients, which varied across different types of cancer. Somatic mutations in the MMR genes were associated with improved overall survival time in all tested patients (P=0.004). Following stratification by type of ICI treatment, a significant association was observed between somatic mutations in the MMR genes and overall survival time in patients treated with cytotoxic T‑lymphocyte‑associated protein 4 inhibitors (P=0.01). In addition, marked but non‑significant association between somatic mutations in the MMR genes and overall survival time was revealed in patients administered with programmed death‑1/programmed death‑ligand‑1 inhibitors (P=0.09). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis demonstrated that somatic mutations in MMR genes were significantly associated with overall survival time (hazard ratio, 0.683; 95% confidence interval, 0.497‑0.938; P=0.01). Patients with somatic mutations in the MMR genes demonstrated higher TMB compared with those not harboring mutations (P<0.01). The results of the present study suggested that somatic mutations in the MMR genes may be used as a prognostic marker of a positive outcome in patients with metastatic cancer receiving ICI treatment, since somatic mutations in the MMR genes may be one of the main factors affecting the tumor mutation load.
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October-2020
Volume 20 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Liu Y, Chen L, Zhang S, Shu Y, Qi Q, Zhu M, Peng Y and Ling Y: Somatic mutations in genes associated with mismatch repair predict survival in patients with metastatic cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors. Oncol Lett 20: 27, 2020.
APA
Liu, Y., Chen, L., Zhang, S., Shu, Y., Qi, Q., Zhu, M. ... Ling, Y. (2020). Somatic mutations in genes associated with mismatch repair predict survival in patients with metastatic cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors. Oncology Letters, 20, 27. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2020.11888
MLA
Liu, Y., Chen, L., Zhang, S., Shu, Y., Qi, Q., Zhu, M., Peng, Y., Ling, Y."Somatic mutations in genes associated with mismatch repair predict survival in patients with metastatic cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors". Oncology Letters 20.4 (2020): 27.
Chicago
Liu, Y., Chen, L., Zhang, S., Shu, Y., Qi, Q., Zhu, M., Peng, Y., Ling, Y."Somatic mutations in genes associated with mismatch repair predict survival in patients with metastatic cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors". Oncology Letters 20, no. 4 (2020): 27. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2020.11888