Multiomic Profiling Uncovers Predictors of Melanoma Response to Immunotherapy

Source: GenomeWeb, December 2021

NEW YORK — A model combining measures of tumor mutation burden and interferon-?-associated gene expression can predict immunotherapy response in melanoma patients, a new study has found.

For their analysis, a team led by researchers at the University of Sydney examined a number of omics factors that could contribute to treatment response or resistance among advanced melanoma patients receiving immunotherapy.

As they reported Thursday in Cancer Cell, they found that tumor mutational burden, neoantigen load, IFN?-associated genes, and T cells in the tumor microenvironment were associated with therapy response, but no specific gene mutation was. A model combining two of these factors — TMB and IFN?-associated gene expression — could predict immunotherapy response with high sensitivity. Still, their findings indicated that resistance to checkpoint inhibitor therapy is heterogenous.

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