Higher levels of CSF-1 support resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (ESMO 2023)
To assess the mechanism of CSF-1-mediated suppression of immunotherapy, Isolated PBMC, activated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) with or without pembrolizumab (20 nM), were cultured alone, or in the presence of macrophages or on an established NSCLC monolayer...The use of Pexidartinib (PLX-3397), a CSF-1R inhibitor, reversed the effects of CSF-1 by restoring lymphocyte activation. However, these effects were dependent on the presence of monocytes/macrophages, suggesting that the immune suppression mediated by CSF-1 was an indirect effect resulting from the stimulation of monocytes that promote their differentiation into macrophages. Conclusions Our study suggests that plasma levels of CSF-1 could serve as a useful predictive biomarker for resistance to ICIs, while targeting the CSF-1/CSF-1R signaling pathway could potentially overcome resistance to ICIs in patients with NSCLC.