Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2025
Multiplexed Immunofluorescence Analysis and Quantification of Intratumoral PD-1+ Tim-3+ CD8+ T Cells
Published on: February 8, 2018
Companion diagnostics and predictive biomarkers for PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors therapy in malignant
Zeping Wang1, Xiaojing Zou1, Haiyan Wang2
1College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Abstract:
Programmed cell death receptor 1 (PD-1), when bound to the ligand programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), can suppress cellular immunity and play a critical role in the initiation and development of cancer. Immune drugs targeting these two sites have been developed for different cancers, including malignant melanoma. The accompanying diagnostic method has been approved by the FDA to guide patient medication. However, the method of immunohistochemical staining, which varies widely due to the antibody and staining cut-off values, has certain limitations in application and does not benefit all patients. Increasing researches begin to focus on new biomarkers to improve objective response rates and survival in cancer patients. In this article, we enumerated three major groups, including tumour microenvironment, peripheral circulation, and gene mutation, which covered the current main research directions. In the future, we hope those biomarkers may be used to guide the treatment of patients with malignant melanoma.
Insights
New biomarkers are being explored to improve cancer treatment outcomes for malignant melanoma, moving beyond current limitations of PD-1/PD-L1 targeted therapies and diagnostic methods.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Programmed cell death receptor 1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1 interaction suppresses cellular immunity, crucial in cancer development.
- Immunotherapies targeting PD-1/PD-L1 are approved for cancers like malignant melanoma, with FDA-approved companion diagnostics.
- Current immunohistochemical staining diagnostics have limitations, including variability and not benefiting all patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review emerging biomarkers for malignant melanoma treatment.
- To identify new strategies beyond PD-1/PD-L1 inhibition for improved patient outcomes.
- To explore biomarkers in the tumor microenvironment, peripheral circulation, and gene mutations.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current research on biomarkers for malignant melanoma.
- Enumeration of three major biomarker categories: tumor microenvironment, peripheral circulation, and gene mutation.
- Analysis of research directions for novel diagnostic and therapeutic guidance.
Main Results:
- Identified tumor microenvironment, peripheral circulation, and gene mutation as key areas for biomarker research.
- Highlighted the limitations of current diagnostic methods for PD-1/PD-L1 targeted therapies.
- Indicated a shift towards exploring a broader range of biomarkers.
Conclusions:
- Current PD-1/PD-L1 diagnostics have limitations in guiding malignant melanoma treatment.
- New biomarkers in the tumor microenvironment, circulation, and genetics show promise.
- These novel biomarkers may improve objective response rates and survival in malignant melanoma patients.
