Lunit to Present AI-Analyzed Immune Phenotype Study as Immunotherapy Predictor for Advanced Gastric Cancer at ESMO 2024

SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 10, 2024 – Lunit, a prominent provider of AI-powered solutions for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, recently unveiled a pivotal study at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. The study, conducted from September 13-17, underscores the potential of Lunit's advanced AI-powered histopathology analyzer, Lunit SCOPE IO®, in predicting the efficacy of Nivolumab combined with chemotherapy in treating advanced gastric cancer (AGC).

The approval of Nivolumab plus chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for AGC has highlighted significant variations in patient responses to the therapy. This inconsistency necessitates dependable biomarkers to predict which patients will benefit most. Lunit's study addresses this critical need, offering a promising new tool for optimizing patient care and treatment planning.

In collaboration with leading medical institutions in Korea, the study utilized Lunit SCOPE IO® to evaluate the immune phenotype of tumors in AGC patients, aiming to predict treatment responses and guide clinical decisions. By analyzing hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained images from 585 AGC patients, Lunit SCOPE IO® classified tumors into inflamed and non-inflamed phenotypes based on the presence and distribution of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs).

This classification provided substantial insights into the tumor microenvironment, which traditional biomarkers like PD-L1 might not fully capture. Key findings of the study include:

1. Patients treated with Nivolumab plus chemotherapy exhibited a significantly longer median progression-free survival (mPFS) compared to those receiving chemotherapy alone, with durations of 8.2 months versus 5.9 months, respectively.
2. The inflamed immune phenotype group, as identified by Lunit SCOPE IO®, experienced more pronounced benefits in progression-free survival from Nivolumab plus chemotherapy:
- Patients with an inflamed immune phenotype had a 5.2-month longer PFS benefit with Nivolumab plus chemotherapy (11.0 months) compared to chemotherapy alone (5.8 months).
- Patients with a non-inflamed immune phenotype had only a 1.4-month longer PFS benefit with Nivolumab plus chemotherapy (7.3 months) compared to chemotherapy alone (5.9 months).
3. The predictive value of the inflamed immune phenotype was consistent across various levels of PD-L1 expression.
4. Multivariate analysis confirmed that the inflamed immune phenotype is an independent predictor of progression-free survival in patients treated with Nivolumab plus chemotherapy.

"By demonstrating that our AI-powered immune phenotype analysis can predict treatment response independently of PD-L1 status, we're opening new possibilities for tailoring treatments in AGC," stated Brandon Suh, CEO of Lunit. "This is particularly significant given that gastric cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, accounting for 7.7% of all cancer cases. Our AI technology has the potential to enhance precision in treatment decisions, leading to more effective therapies and improved quality of life for patients with AGC."

Lunit will present these findings at the ESMO Congress 2024 during a poster session titled "AI-powered immune phenotype predicts favorable outcomes of nivolumab plus chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer: A multi-center real-world data analysis." The session will take place on September 16, from 12:00 to 13:00 PM.

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