Immunoproteomic Biomarkers: From Publication to Personalized Medicine

As the number of immunotherapies increases, so does the need for biomarkers that can aid in identifying an optimal therapy or combination therapy for patients. These predictive biomarkers are of enormous value to patients but present unique challenges to researchers due to the complexity of the immune system and the variability of individual patient molecular profiles. This chapter draws on recent examples of the use of biomarkers to explore the range of phenotypes encountered in immunotherapy trials for the treatment of neoplastic disease. These examples are discussed in the context of immunoproteomic analysis with a particular focus on the unique challenges that are presented when a high dimensionality technique such as immunoproteomics is applied to study a complex system, the immune system in this case. In order to overcome these challenges, immunoproteomic researchers must pay close attention to study design in order to ensure that the results are not only statistically valid but also that the biomarker strategy as a whole is compatible with the standard of care. We propose that, in spite of its limitations, the use of immunoproteomic analysis of liquid biopsies may present a unique opportunity for translation of immunoproteomic biomarkers to the clinic.