Prognostic value of HLA-I homozygosity in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with single agent immunotherapy.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess the impact of genomic human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-I/II homozygosity on the survival benefit of patients with unresectable locally advanced, metastatic non-small lung cancer treated by single-agent programmed cell death protein-1/programmed death ligand 1 (PD1/PDL1) inhibitors. METHODS: We collected blood from 170 patients with advanced lung cancer treated with immunotherapy at two major oncology centers in Western Australia. Genomic DNA was extracted from white blood cells and used for HLA-I/II high-resolution typing. HLA-I/II homozygosity was tested for association with survival outcomes. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were constructed to determine whether HLA homozygosity was an independent prognostic factor affecting Overall Survival (OS) and Progression Free Survival (PFS). We also investigated the association between individual HLA-A and -B supertypes with OS. RESULTS: Homozygosity at HLA-I loci, but not HLA-II, was significantly associated with shorter OS (HR=2.17, 95% CI 1.13 to 4.17, p=0.02) in both univariable and multivariable analysis. The effect of HLA-I homozygosity in OS was particularly relevant for patients with tumors expressing PDL1 ≥50% (HR=3.93, 95% CI 1.30 to 11.85, p<0.001). The adverse effect of HLA-I homozygosity on PFS was only apparent after controlling for interactions between PDL1 status and HLA-I genotype (HR=2.21, 95% CI 1.04 to 4.70, p=0.038). The presence of HLA-A02 supertype was the only HLA-I supertype to be associated with improved OS (HR=0.56, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.93, p=0.023). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that homozygosity at ≥1 HLA-I loci is associated with short OS and PFS in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer with PDL1 ≥50% treated with single-agent immunotherapy. Carriers of HLA-A02 supertype reported better survival outcomes in this cohort of patients.

Tuberculose associada a nefrocalcinose em um lactente / Tuberculosis associated with nephrocalcinosis in an infant

Objetivos: Relatar um caso clínico de tuberculose de apresentação não usual.Descrição do caso: Uma lactente de oito meses, sem infecção pelo vírus de imunodeficiência humana (HIV), filha de mãe seropositiva para HIV e com tuberculose pulmonar, foi internada por febre com 15 dias de evolução, sem outra sintomatologia. A radiografia de tórax revelou múltiplos focos de hipotransparência bilateralmente e a prova de tuberculina 8 mm. A doente não havia recebido a vacina BCG. Realizou broncofibroscopia que evidenciou compressão extrínseca da árvore traqueobrônquica, causada por múltiplas adenopatias, confirmadas por ressonância magnética nuclear do mediastino. Na ecografia abdominal foram encontrados aspectos sugestivos de nefrocalcinose. Os estudos do metabolismo cálcio-fósforo e da função renal não revelaram alterações. Iniciou terapêutica antibacilar tripla e corticoterapia. Foi isolado Mycobacterium tuberculosis no lavado bronco-alveolar. Verificou-se boa evolução clínica, tendo alta com 27 dias de terapêutica antibacilar.Conclusões: Este caso clínico destaca-se pela forma incomum de apresentação da tuberculose, com a presença de nefrocalcinose. As perturbações do metabolismo do cálcio associadas à tuberculose são raras, mas têm implicação no seguimento e no prognóstico.

Aims: To report a case of tuberculosis with unusual presentation.Case description: An eight months old infant without infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), born of an HIV-positive mother with pulmonary tuberculosis, was hospitalized for fever lasting 15 days, with no other symptoms. Chest radiography revealed multiple bilateral nodular opacities and the tuberculin test was 8 mm. The patient had not received BCG vaccination. Bronchoscopy showed extrinsic compression of the tracheobronchial tree, caused by multiple adenopathies, confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of the mediastinum. Abdominal ultrasound was suggestive of nephrocalcinosis. Phospho-calcium metabolism and renal function studies showed no alterations. Triple antituberculous therapy and corticosteroid were started. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated in bronchoalveolar lavage. There was good clinical outcome and the patient was discharged with 27 days of antituberculosis therapy.Conclusions : This case stands out for its unusual presentation , with the presence of nephrocalcinosis. Disturbances of calcium metabolism associated with tuberculosis are rare, but have implications for the follow-up and prognosis.