Multiomics Analysis Reveals Distinct Immunogenomic Features of Lung Cancer with Ground-Glass Opacity

• Published in: American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine 2021-11, Vol.204 (10), p.1180-1192
• Main Authors: Chen, Kezhong, Bai, Jing, Reuben, Alexandre, Zhao, Heng, Kang, Guannan, Zhang, Chunliu, Qi, Qingyi, Xu, Yaping, Hubert, Shawna, Chang, Lianpeng, Guan, Yanfang, Feng, Lin, Zhang, Kai, Zhang, Kaitai, Yi, Xin, Xia, Xuefeng, Cheng, Shujun, Yang, Fan, Zhang, Jianjun, Wang, Jun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma of Lung - diagnosis; Adenocarcinoma of Lung - physiopathology; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers, Tumor; Cohort Studies; Female; Genomics; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods; Immune system; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - diagnosis; Lung Neoplasms - physiopathology; Male; Middle Aged; Original; Precancerous Conditions - diagnosis; Precancerous Conditions - physiopathology; Prospective Studies; Radiology; Retrospective Studies; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule - diagnosis; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule - physiopathology; Tumors
• ISSN: 1073-449X; 1535-4970
• DOI: 10.1164/RCCM.202101-0119OC

Ground-glass opacity (GGO)-associated lung cancers are common and radiologically distinct clinical entities known to have an indolent clinical course and superior survival, implying a unique underlying biology. However, the molecular and immune characteristics of GGO-associated lung nodules have not been systemically studied. To provide mechanistic insights for the treatment of these radiologically distinct clinical entities. We initiated a prospective cohort study to collect and characterize pulmonary nodules with GGO components (nonsolid and part-solid nodules) or without GGO components, as precisely quantified by using three-dimensional image reconstruction to delineate the molecular and immune features associated with GGO. Multiomics assessment conducted by using targeted gene panel sequencing, RNA sequencing, TCR (T-cell receptor) sequencing, and circulating tumor DNA detection was performed. GGO-associated lung cancers exhibited a lower tumor mutation burden than solid nodules. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a less active immune environment in GGO components and immune pathways, decreased expression of immune activation markers, and less infiltration of most immune-cell subsets, which was confirmed by using multiplex immunofluorescence. Furthermore, T-cell repertoire sequencing revealed lower T-cell expansion in GGO-associated lung cancers. HLA loss of heterozygosity was significantly less common in lung adenocarcinomas with GGO components than in those without. Circulating tumor DNA analysis suggested that the release of tumor DNA to the peripheral blood was correlated with the tumor size of non-GGO components. Compared with lung cancers presenting with solid lung nodules, GGO-associated lung cancers are characterized by a less active metabolism and a less active immune microenvironment, which may be the mechanisms underlying their indolent clinical course. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03320044).