Plasma GDF15 levels associated with circulating immune cells predict the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor treatment and prognosis in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

PURPOSE: Although increased plasma growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) levels have been reported in patients with various cancers, the predictive role of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in advanced cancers remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate GDF15 levels as a predictive marker in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and analyze their association with immune cell populations. METHODS: This study included 87 patients with advanced NSCLC receiving anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors between March 2018 and May 2020. Blood samples were obtained immediately before and months after PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor administration. RESULTS: The objective response rate (ORR) was significantly higher in the low GDF15 than in the high GDF15 group (39.2% vs. 15.3%, P = 0.013). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly longer in the low GDF15 than in the high GDF15 group (13.2 [95% CI 7.6–18.9] vs. 7.2 [95% CI 4.8–9.6] months, P = 0.048). Moreover, plasma GDF15 levels negatively correlated with PD-1(+)/CD8(+) T cells (r = − 0.399, P = 0.003) and positively with PD-1(+)/Treg cells (r = 0.507, P < 0.001) and PD-1(+)Treg/CD4(+) T cells (r = 0.439, P < 0.001). The ORR was significantly higher in the group with decreased GDF15 from baseline than in the increased GDF15 group (37.2% vs. 10.0%, P = 0.026). The median PFS was significantly longer in the decreased GDF15 group (14.8 [95% CI 10.4–19.2] vs. 5.9 [95% CI 2.8–9.0] months, P = 0.002). Plasma GDF15 levels were associated with PD-1(+)CD8(+) T cells and PD-1(+) Treg cells. CONCLUSION: Plasma GDF15 could be a potential biomarker for predicting the efficacy and survival benefit of immunotherapy in advanced NSCLC. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00432-022-04500-5.