Impact of Serum GDF-15 and IL-6 on Immunotherapy Response in Cancer: A Prospective Study
by
,
Orhun Akdogan
1,*
,
Sena Turkmen
2,
Galip Can Uyar
3,
Kadriye Bir Yucel
3,
Busra Tufekci
4,
Fatih Gurler
1,
Ozan Yazici
1,
Nuriye Ozdemir
1,
Ahmet Ozet
1,
Cengiz Karakaya
2 and
Osman Sutcuoglu
3 1
Department of Medical Oncology, Gazi University, 06560 Ankara, Türkiye
2
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Gazi University, 06560 Ankara, Türkiye
3
Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Etlik City Hospital, 06170 Ankara, Türkiye
4
Department of Internal Medicine, Gazi University, 06560 Ankara, Türkiye
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Cancers 2024, 16(24), 4146; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16244146
Submission received: 12 November 2024
/
Revised: 7 December 2024
/
Accepted: 10 December 2024
/
Published: 12 December 2024
(This article belongs to the Section Cancer Biomarkers)
Simple Summary
Immunotherapy has significantly changed cancer treatment, yet predicting which patients it will benefit remains challenging. This study aimed to explore the role of two serum biomarkers, growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), in determining the outcomes of patients receiving immunotherapy. By analyzing 85 patients with advanced cancers such as lung, kidney, and melanoma, we discovered that high levels of GDF-15 were associated with worse survival outcomes and a higher likelihood of cancer-related cachexia, a condition causing severe weight and muscle loss. Although IL-6 also showed potential as a biomarker, its impact was less pronounced. These findings suggest that GDF-15 could serve as a useful biomarker to guide treatment decisions and help identify patients who might benefit the most from immunotherapy. This research study highlights the importance of using biomarkers to optimize cancer care and improve patient outcomes.
Abstract
Background: Immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment; however, predicting treatment response remains challenging. Serum biomarkers can help identify patients who are most likely to benefit from immunotherapy. Objective: This study evaluates the relationship between serum growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and treatment outcomes in cancer patients undergoing second-line immunotherapy. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study involving 85 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), or malignant melanoma treated with nivolumab. The baseline serum levels of GDF-15 and IL-6 were measured by using ELISA kits. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), with cachexia as a secondary outcome. Results: Elevated GDF-15 levels were significantly associated with shorter PFS (HR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.32–0.96, p = 0.032) and OS (HR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.25–0.90, p = 0.020). Higher IL-6 levels correlated with shorter PFS, though statistical significance was not achieved. Additionally, high GDF-15 levels were linked to increased cachexia incidence (p = 0.037). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that GDF-15 could serve as a prognostic biomarker for immunotherapy response and may also be a target for cachexia management. Further studies should explore its potential to guide clinical decision making in oncology.
