JERUSALEM, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Israeli researchers have identified a genetic "fingerprint" that helps predict the effectiveness of immunotherapy treatments, the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion) said in a statement on Wednesday.
The Technion stated that the discovery will help improve the personalization of immunotherapy treatments.
A major challenge in immunotherapy is the unpredictability of patient responses. Some patients do not benefit and may experience side effects without significant improvement.
Therefore, there is a need to identify biomarkers that can forecast the effectiveness of treatment based on the specific data of each patient.
In their study, published in Cell Genomics, the team examined the genetic characteristics of T-cell clones -- groups of multiplied immune T cells that specialize in targeting a specific threat once recognized -- and their influence on treatment success.
To achieve the goal, the team conducted a large-scale meta-analysis using single-cell RNA sequencing and T-cell receptor sequencing data from cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy.
It was found that although these T-cell clones are present in both responsive and non-responsive patients, those who respond to immunotherapy display a distinct genetic signature in their T-cell clones, and the treatment boosts their immune activity.
Another major finding was that in non-responsive patients, some T-cell clones were simultaneously found both in the bloodstream and the tumor.
The researchers said that, to achieve a better immune response, it is crucial to activate T-cell clones located solely within the tumor, rather than those present in both the tumor and the bloodstream.
They added that this discovery will enhance predictive capabilities and could lead to new treatment strategies that improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy. ■
