Immune checkpoint inhibitors in gastrointestinal malignancies: an Umbrella review

Abstract

In the Modern era, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been the cornerstone of success in the treatment of several malignancies. Despite remarkable therapeutic advances, complex matrix together with significant molecular and immunological differences have led to conflicting outcomes of ICI therapy in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. As far we are aware, to date, there has been no study to confirm the robustness of existing data, and this study is the first umbrella review to provide a more comprehensive picture about ICIs' efficacy and safety in GI malignancies. Systematic search on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane library identified 14 meta-analyses. The pooled analysis revealed that ICIs application, especially programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors such as Camrelizumab and Sintilimab, could partially improve response rates in patients with GI cancers compared to conventional therapies. However, different GI cancer types did not experience the same efficacy; it seems that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and esophageal cancer (EC) patients are likely better candidates for ICI therapy than GC and CRC patients. Furthermore, application of ICIs in a combined-modal strategy are perceived opportunity in GI cancers. We also assessed the correlation of PD-L1 expression as well as microsatellite status with the extent of the response to ICIs; overall, high expression of PD-L1 in GI cancers is associated with better response to ICIs, however, additional studies are required to precisely elaborate ICI responses with respect to microsatellite status in different GI tumors. Despite encouraging ICI efficacy in some GI cancers, a greater number of serious and fatal adverse events have been observed; further highlighting the fact that ICI therapy in GI cancers is not without cost, and further studies are required to utmost optimization of this approach in GI cancers.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal malignancies; Immune checkpoint inhibitor; Microsatellite instability; PD-1; PD-L1; Programmed death-1.

Fig. 1

Literature search and study selection process

Fig. 2

Forest plots of OS analysis in different types of GI cancers

Fig. 3

Forest plots of PFS analysis in different types of GI cancers

Fig. 4

Forest plots of ORR analysis in different types of GI cancers

Fig. 5

Forest plots of DCR analysis in different types of GI cancers

Fig. 6

Forest plots of pooled OS, PFS, ORR, and DCR analysis in different types of GI cancers

Fig. 7

Detailed on TRAEs, ≥ grade 3 TRAEs, grade 5 TRAEs, serious AEs, AEs led to treatment discontinuation, and AEs led to death in different GI cancers following ICI therapy

Fig. 8

An overview of the ICI therapy in GI cancers