Predictive model for BNT162b2 vaccine response in cancer patients based on blood cytokines and growth factors

Abstract

BackgroundPatients with cancer, especially hematological cancer, are at increased risk for breakthrough COVID-19 infection. So far, a predictive biomarker that can assess compromised vaccine-induced anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity in cancer patients has not been proposed.MethodsWe employed machine learning approaches to identify a biomarker signature based on blood cytokines, chemokines, and immune- and non-immune-related growth factors linked to vaccine immunogenicity in 199 cancer patients receiving the BNT162b2 vaccine.ResultsC-reactive protein (general marker of inflammation), interleukin (IL)-15 (a pro-inflammatory cytokine), IL-18 (interferon-gamma inducing factor), and placental growth factor (an angiogenic cytokine) correctly classified patients with a diminished vaccine response assessed at day 49 with >80% accuracy. Amongst these, CRP showed the highest predictive value for poor response to vaccine administration. Importantly, this unique signature of vaccine response was present at different studied timepoints both before and after vaccination and was not majorly affected by different anti-cancer treatments.ConclusionWe propose a blood-based signature of cytokines and growth factors that can be employed in identifying cancer patients at persistent high risk of COVID-19 despite vaccination with BNT162b2. Our data also suggest that such a signature may reflect the inherent immunological constitution of some cancer patients who are refractive to immunotherapy.

TRAIL and IP-10 dynamics in pregnant women post COVID-19 vaccination: associations with neutralizing antibody potency

“…Previous research had revealed an increase in IP-10 levels after vaccinations ( Tang et al., 2023 ), and the increase was evident in healthy individuals as well as in elderly or cancer patients after administration of the BNT162b2 vaccine ( Konnova et al., 2022 ). According to the literature, after receiving a second vaccine dose, a memory response was induced, leading to a significant increase in levels of IFN-g, IP-10/CXCL10, IL-6, and TNF-a that were crucial for quickly recruiting and activating effector immune cells ( Bergamaschi et al., 2021 ).…”