Immunotherapy Outcomes Prediction: Scientists Discover Methods for Anticipating Results
Every year, scientists develop new ways to beat cancer. One of the hottest new options is immunotherapy, using the body's immune system to destroy the disease. But not all people and cancers can take advantage of immunotherapy. That's why researchers from Johns Hopkins are making waves with their latest discovery.
The researchers identified a specific group of mutations in cancer tumors that hints at a tumor's receptiveness to immunotherapy. This discovery could help doctors choose people for immunotherapy more effectively and improve treatment outcomes.
Their research was recently published in the journal Nature Medicine.
Immunotherapy 101
Immunotherapy is all about harnessing the body's immune system to fight the bad guys–in this case, cancer cells. Normally, cancer cells develop mutations that help them hide from the immune system. Immunotherapy gives the immune system a boost, making it easier to detect and destroy cancer cells.
There are several types of immunotherapy, but they all work by either boosting the immune system directly or helping the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.
Mutations Matter
Right now, doctors use the total number of mutations in a tumor (called the tumor mutation burden or TMB) to try and guess how well a tumor will respond to immunotherapy. However, as this study shows, not all mutations are created equal.
The researchers at Johns Hopkins called the specific group of mutations they discovered "persistent mutations." These mutations are around longer than other mutations as cancer evolves. This allows the cancer to remain visible to the immune system, making it more likely to respond to immunotherapy.
This discovery could help doctors pick people for immunotherapy more accurately and predict treatment results more effectively.
Peeking into the Future
Dr. Kim Margolin, a medical oncologist, thinks this study could change how doctors choose people for immunotherapy in the near future. With high-tech tests, doctors may be able to categorize people by their likelihood of responding to immunotherapy. Ultimately, these tests may become predictive factors that can interact with the treatment.
As research continues, we can look forward to even better cancer treatments and better outcomes for those affected by this terrible disease.
- Scientists at Johns Hopkins have discovered a specific group of persistent mutations in cancer tumors that may suggest a tumor's responsiveness to immunotherapy.
- This discovery could aid doctors in selecting people more accurately for immunotherapy treatment, potentially improving treatment outcomes as doctors may be able to predict responses more effectively.
- The development of high-tech tests that can categorize people based on their likelihood of responding to immunotherapy could revolutionize the way doctors choose patients for this innovative medical-health treatment, offering a more personalized approach to cancer treatment in the future.
