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Updated: Mar 21, 2026
07:54
Heterogeneity Mapping of Protein Expression in Tumors using Quantitative Immunofluorescence
Published on: October 25, 2011
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Tumor Heterogeneity and Tumor Immunity: A Chicken-and-Egg Problem
1Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Trends in Immunology
|May 12, 2016
Summary
Checkpoint blockade therapy response is determined by clonal neoantigen expression, not overall tumor mutational burden. This finding reframes the predictive markers for successful immunotherapy treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunotherapy
- Genomics
Background:
- Checkpoint blockade therapy (CBT) is a promising cancer treatment.
- Tumor mutational burden (TMB) is currently used as a predictive biomarker for CBT success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between neoantigen expression and CBT response.
- To re-evaluate the role of TMB as a predictive marker for CBT.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of tumor genomic data.
- Assessment of neoantigen expression patterns.
- Correlation of neoantigen expression with clinical response to CBT.
Main Results:
- Clonal neoantigen expression by tumor cells, not overall TMB, significantly correlates with CBT response.
- Identified specific neoantigen expression profiles associated with treatment success.
Conclusions:
- Clonal neoantigen expression is a more accurate predictor of CBT success than TMB.
- This finding has implications for patient selection and treatment strategies in immunotherapy.
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