[Immunologic biomarkers in predicting the efficacy of cancer therapy]

Immune checkpoint agents, representing a new class of immunotherapeutic modalities, have proven their beneficial effect inducing durable clinical response in a widening spectrum of tumor types. To enhance their efficacy it is of primary importance to search for biomarkers that could help predict the likelihood of therapeutic effect. Results of studies on potential predictive immunological parameters suggest that the existing antitumor immune activity detectable in the patients, although not sufficient to control tumor progression in itself, could increase the efficacy of different immunotherapies. Moreover, the contribution of immune reactions to the effect of other antitumor treatment modalities as chemo-, radio-, and targeted therapy has also been demonstrated. Combinations of immunotherapies with these and with each other will probably represent treatment approaches resulting in the highest therapeutic effect, which may necessitate the development of biomarker panels with multiple components characterizing the immune status of the patient and the tumor as well.