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Cancer research

Serum Biomarkers Predict Immunotherapy Efficacy in Advanced Gastric Cancer

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A recent study published in Frontiers in Immunology has identified serum lactate and pyruvate as non-invasive biomarkers with significant predictive value for immunotherapy efficacy in advanced gastric cancer. The research conducted by a team of scientists at Nanjing Medical University found that patients with decreased serum concentrations of glycolytic metabolites (lactate and pyruvate) demonstrated higher disease control rate (DCR) compared to those with elevated concentrations. Additionally, elevated serum lactate and pyruvate were significantly associated with inferior progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Key Takeaways:

  • Serum lactate and pyruvate levels can predict immunotherapy efficacy in advanced gastric cancer with significant predictive value.
  • Patients with decreased serum concentrations of glycolytic metabolites (lactate and pyruvate) demonstrated higher disease control rate (DCR) compared to those with elevated concentrations.
  • Elevated serum lactate and pyruvate were significantly associated with inferior progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).
  • Serum TCA cycle metabolites did not show significant associations with DCR, PFS, or OS.
  • The study investigates the predictive value of serum energy metabolites for therapeutic efficacy in advanced gastric cancer receiving first-line chemoimmunotherapy.
  • The research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), the Huai'an Natural Science Research Program, and other institutions.
  • Jingjing Wu, Chang Liu, Jiru Wang, Bin Wei, and Ying Dai were among the researchers involved in the study.

Statistics:

  • 52 patients with advanced gastric cancer were included in the prospective observational study.
  • Serum metabolites of glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle were quantified via high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
  • Disease control rate (DCR) was 60.4% in patients with decreased serum concentrations of glycolytic metabolites.
  • Progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly shorter in patients with elevated serum lactate and pyruvate (median PFS, 4.5 months vs. 7.8 months).
  • Overall survival (OS) was significantly shorter in patients with elevated serum lactate and pyruvate (median OS, 7.2 months vs. 15.6 months).

Sources:

  • Serum Pyruvate and Lactate Predict Immunotherapy Efficacy In Advanced Gastric Cancer: a Prospective Biomarker Study, Frontiers in Immunology, 2025;16.
  • NewsRx. New Gastric Cancer Study Findings Have Been Reported from Nanjing Medical University (Serum Pyruvate and Lactate Predict Immunotherapy Efficacy In Advanced Gastric Cancer: a Prospective Biomarker Study). Cancer Weekly. October 28, 2025; p 2100.

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