Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy Is Effective in Modifying the Tumor Genome and Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer or Lung Metastatic Carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To directly reveal the change in genome mutation, RNA transcript of tumor cells, and tumor microenvironment (TME) after stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in paired human lung tumor specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Paired tumor samples were collected from 10 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or lung metastatic carcinoma within a week before and after SBRT. DNA and RNA of tumor tissues was extracted from the paired samples. Whole-exome and RNA sequencing assays were performed by next-generation sequencing. Gene mutation, genomic expression, T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire, and profiling of tumor-infiltrating immune cells were analyzed through bioinformatics analysis in paired tumor samples. CD8+ T-cell infiltration and PD-L1 expressions were detected by immunostaining in tumor tissues. RESULTS: The diversity of TCR repertoire and PD-L1 expression increased significantly in the TME, and the most enriched term of the gene ontology analysis was the immune response gene after receiving SBRT. SBRT induced neo-mutation of genes in tumor cells but did not increase tumor mutation burden in tumor tissues. TME displayed complex immune cell changes and infiltration and expression of immune-regulating factors such as C-X-C motif chemokine (CXCL) 10, CXCL16, interferons (IFNs), and IFN receptors. CD8+ T-cells in tumor tissues did not improve significantly after SBRT while the infiltrating TH1 and TH2 cells decreased remarkably. CONCLUSION: SBRT improved the TCR repertoire diversity and PD-L1 expression in the TME and induced neo-mutation of genes in tumor cells but did not increase CD8+ T-cell infiltration and IFN expression in the tumor tissue within a week.