Fig. 7: Dynamic changes and their prognostic significances of circulating parameters.

Seventy-four paired blood samples were collected from 37 patients. A SBRT-induced changes of circulating cytokine levels and exosomal PD-L1 level (paired t-test). The median, first quartile (Q1), third quartile (Q3), whiskers (minima = Q1 − 1.5IQR, maxima = Q3 + 1.5IQR) were presented in the box plots. B, C The associations of circulating IL−2R and IL-21 levels with patient’s progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), in the pre-SBRT (B) and post-SBRT (C) blood samples (log-rank test). P-value < 0.05 (two-sided) was considered statistically significant without adjustment for multiplicity. Source data are provided in the Source Data file. SBRT, stereotactic body radiotherapy.