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Updated: Dec 24, 2025
Monitoring PD-1-Blocking Antibodies Bound to T Cells Derived from a Drop of Peripheral Blood
Published on: February 5, 2020
Prediction of Immune checkpoint inhibitors benefit from routinely measurable peripheral blood parameters
1Algoma District Cancer Program, Sault Area Hospital, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada; Section of Internal Medicine, Division of Clinical Sciences, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. ivoutsadakis@yahoo.com; ivoutsadakis@nosm.ca.
Abstract:
Immunotherapy of cancer has been the most remarkable advance in cancer therapy in the last several years with the successful introduction of monoclonal antibody drugs that block inhibitory immune receptors to invigorate immune attack against tumors. With the introduction of these drugs the parallel need of predictive markers of response has arisen. Beyond markers from the tumor and the tumor micro-environment, the peripheral blood supplies several biomarkers for response that have been reported individually or in combinations to provide valuable predictive information. These include the number of circulating cell subsets, various ratios of them and combinations of factors that also encompass biochemical measurements such as LDH. Peripheral blood biomarkers are usually obtained during the routine patient evaluations, methodology is well-calibrated for the routine practice and their acquisition does not require extra infrastructure or financial resources. This paper will review available data on predictive markers for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) from peripheral blood, including biomarkers that have been less extensively studied. In addition, it will discuss ways forward for the use of peripheral blood biomarkers in immunotherapy prognostication.
Insights
Peripheral blood biomarkers offer valuable predictive insights for cancer immunotherapy response. These easily accessible markers, including cell counts and ratios, aid in prognostication without extra resources.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Biomarker Research
Background:
- Cancer immunotherapy, particularly with monoclonal antibodies targeting immune checkpoints, represents a significant therapeutic advancement.
- The clinical success of immunotherapy necessitates reliable predictive markers to guide treatment decisions and patient selection.
- While tumor and micro-environment markers exist, peripheral blood biomarkers offer a practical alternative for response prediction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing data on peripheral blood biomarkers predictive of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).
- To explore less extensively studied peripheral blood biomarkers for immunotherapy prognostication.
- To discuss future directions for utilizing peripheral blood biomarkers in predicting immunotherapy outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of studies investigating peripheral blood biomarkers for ICI response.
- Analysis of data on circulating cell subsets, their ratios, and biochemical markers (e.g., LDH).
- Inclusion of both well-established and emerging peripheral blood biomarkers.
Main Results:
- Peripheral blood biomarkers, including specific circulating cell subsets and their ratios, have demonstrated predictive value for immunotherapy response.
- Combinations of these biomarkers, alongside biochemical measurements, can enhance predictive accuracy.
- These markers are readily obtainable through routine patient evaluations, requiring no specialized infrastructure.
Conclusions:
- Peripheral blood biomarkers are a feasible and valuable tool for predicting patient response to cancer immunotherapy.
- Their accessibility and ease of acquisition make them highly practical for routine clinical use.
- Further research into novel peripheral blood markers will refine immunotherapy prognostication and treatment strategies.
