The genes inherent in the body may affect the response to cancer immunotherapy!

February 27, 2021 // - Recently, in a research report entitled "Germline genetic contribution to the immune landscape of cancer" published in the international journal Immunity , scientists from the University of California and other institutions said through research , The body’s response to cancer immunotherapy may be affected by the genes carried by our body at birth.

In this research report, the researchers found that genetic mutations may play a very critical role in whether the body will benefit from checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Image source: CC0 Public Domain

Elad Ziv, MD, said that there are currently some factors related to the host's immune system's response to tumors, but the current research is generally less on how the body's genetic background can help predict the body's immune system's response to cancer.

This is a significant effect, similar to the size of the genetic contribution of shapes such as high blood sugar levels or obesity.

Researchers have identified mutants with significant effects in 22 regions or single genes of the genome, including the IFIH1 gene, etc.

There is another gene called STING1.

In total, in this study, the researchers analyzed 11 million gene mutants to observe how these mutants matched the 139 immune parameters in the patient’s body tumor samples; but this latest study determined The 22 regions or genes are just the tip of the iceberg.

Finally, the researcher Ziv said that in the next step they will use these data to develop a polygenic strategy that considers a large number of genes to predict which cancer patients will benefit from current therapies, and for those who cannot benefit.

Reference materials:

[1] Rosalyn W.