Laboratory biomarkers of an effective antitumor immune response. Clinical significance

• Published in: Cancer treatment and research communications 2021, Vol.29, p.100489-100489, Article 100489
• Main Authors: Malkova, A.M., Sharoyko, V.V., Zhukova, N.V., Gubal, A.R., Orlova, R.V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptive Immunity - immunology; Antitumor immune response; Biomarker adaptive immunity; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Efficacy; Genetics; Humans; Immunotherapy - methods; Tumor Microenvironment
• ISSN: 2468-2942; 2468-2942
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ctarc.2021.100489

•The research revealed possible markers predictors of high efficacy of therapy with checkpoint inhibitors that were classified according to the pathogenic mechanism of drug action: markers of high mutagenic potential of the tumor itself, of high activity of adaptive immunity, and decreased activity of the tumor microenvironment. Biomarkers of innate and adaptive immunity may indicate the activity of tumor microenvironment and cytotoxic immunity. Determination of the markers before and during the treatment might be an appointment indication for various immunomodulatory drugs, inhibitors of proinflammatory cytokines, and proangiogenic molecules. The modern checkpoint inhibitors block the programmed death-1 receptor and its ligand, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 on tumor cells and lymphocytes, that induces cytotoxic reactions. Nowadays, there are no approved clinical and laboratory predictor markers of immune therapy efficacy, which would allow a more personalized approach to patient selection and treatment. The aim of this review is to analyze possible biomarkers of efficacy for treatment with checkpoint inhibitors according to the pathogenic mechanisms of drug action. The review revealed possible predictive biomarkers, that could be classified to 3 groups: biomarkers of high mutagenic potential of the tumor, biomarkers of high activity of adaptive immunity, biomarkers of low activity of the tumor microenvironment. The determination of the described markers before the start of therapy can be used to formulate a treatment regimen, in which the use of various immunomodulatory drugs, inhibitors of proinflammatory cytokines, angiogenic molecules, and probiotics can be considered.