AUTHOR=Zeng Lisi , Huang Xubo , Tian Yun , Huang Jinxia , Liu Huiyan , Wen Juncai , Liu Kaihua , Shao Yang , Luo Jiali , Tang Hongsheng , Liao Quanxing , Lei Ziying , Cui Weiwen , Xia Qianghua , Guan Tianpei , Li Jin , Cui Shuzhong 

TITLE=Tumor Mutational Burden Associated With Response to Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2022.796263

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2022.796263

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=Background: Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancer types, especially in Asian countries. Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been shown to improve the progression-free survival among gastric cancer patients with peritoneal metastases, however, not all patients demonstrate response to HIPEC. 
Methods: Biomarkers are needed to select patients for effective treatment of HIPEC. Here, we performed whole exome sequencing on tumor samples from 18 gastric cancer patients who received HIPEC treatment, and assessed the association between genomic mutation features and progression free survival. Exome sequencing was further conducted on tumor samples from additional 15 gastric cancer patients as a replication study. 
Results: The tumor mutation burden was significantly higher in the group of patients with a better response to HIPEC treatment than the others. Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that patients with high TMB had a significant longer survival time than patients with low TMB. This discovery was validated in the replication cohort. Genes bearing mutations recurrently and selectively in patients with better response to HIPEC were found in the two cohorts.
Conclusion: We found that higher tumor mutation burden is significantly associated with better response to HIPEC. Our results provide useful hints for prognostic stratification of HIPEC treatment.