Breast Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Biomarkers

Background:

• Tumoral immune evasion is a critical hallmark of cancer, driving renewed interest in cancer immunology.
• Host immune responses play a substantial role in the complexity and heterogeneity of breast cancer (BC).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review emerging findings on tumoral immune evasion mechanisms.
• To highlight the prognostic and predictive potential of various biomarkers in breast cancer.
• To discuss the ongoing exploration of immune checkpoint modulators in BC treatment.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on cancer immunology and breast cancer.
• Analysis of findings related to tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and other biomarkers.
• Discussion of ongoing clinical trials involving immune checkpoint modulators.

Main Results:

• Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes show potential as predictive tools for early BC evolution, particularly in HER2-positive and triple-negative subtypes.
• Multiple biomarkers, including genomic platforms and immune cells (regulatory T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells), are under evaluation for prognostic and predictive roles.
• Clinical trials are actively investigating immune checkpoint modulators for advanced and neoadjuvant breast cancer treatment.

Conclusions:

• Cancer immunology and immune evasion mechanisms are crucial areas of research for understanding and treating cancer.
• Biomarkers like tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes offer promising avenues for personalized breast cancer management.
• While promising, the clinical application of immunotherapies in breast cancer requires further research to address existing uncertainties.