Immunotherapy Outcomes Prediction: Scientists Reveal Potential Methods for Determining Treatment Success
In the ongoing fight against cancer, researchers have turned to immunotherapy, a treatment option that leverages the body's immune system to combat the disease. However, its effectiveness varies between individuals and cancer types, leading scientists to explore reasons behind its success.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland have identified a subset of specific mutations within cancer tumors, dubbed 'persistent mutations.' These mutations persist as the cancer evolves, making the tumor more visible to the immune system and enhancing the response to immunotherapy.
Doctors currently use the total number of mutations in a tumor, known as Tumor Mutation Burden (TMB), to predict the tumor's response to immunotherapy. TMB refers to the changes in the genetic material, or mutations, in cancer cells. A high number of mutations can make the cancer cells more identifiable and easier to attack by the immune system.
However, the research team found that while a high TMB can indicate a positive response to immunotherapy, it does not guarantee it. Instead, they focused on identifying persistent mutations—those that remain in the cancer cells and allow the immune system to continuously detect and attack the tumor.
These persistent mutations, according to the study's lead author, Dr. Valsamo Anagnostou, may better predict which tumors will respond favorably to immune checkpoint blockade, a type of immunotherapy, resulting in long-term survival.
Dr. Kim Margolin, a medical oncologist, praises the study for going beyond the simple concept of TMB and identifying persistent mutations and their role in stimulating an immune response. She believes that in the near future, high-throughput, next-generation sequencing techniques will be used to categorize patients by their likelihood of responding to immunotherapy.
While the research focuses on the association between certain genetic mutations and increased cancer risk, as well as increased sensitivity to certain anticancer therapies, the impact on the tumor's response to immunotherapy is not explicitly mentioned. However, the findings suggest that persistent mutations may make tumors more receptive to immunotherapy.
Immunotherapy is currently used for treating breast cancer, melanoma, leukemia, and non-small cell lung cancer. Researchers are also investigating its potential as a treatment for prostate, brain, and ovarian cancer.
In this study, the team focused on identifying persistent mutations in prostate cancer, but future research may uncover similar mutations in other cancer types that can help predict responses to immunotherapy.
- The study by researchers from Johns Hopkins University found that persistent mutations in cancer cells could better predict which tumors will respond positively to immune checkpoint blockade, a type of immunotherapy, leading to long-term survival.
- Immunotherapy has been used for treating various medical conditions such as breast cancer, melanoma, leukemia, and non-small cell lung cancer. Future research may uncover similar persistent mutations in other cancer types, helping predict responses to immunotherapy.
- While scientists currently use the total number of mutations in a tumor, known as Tumor Mutation Burden (TMB), to predict tumor response to immunotherapy, they are now focusing on identifying persistent mutations and their role in stimulating an immune response, as these may offer a more accurate prediction.
