Tissue- and liquid biopsy-based biomarkers for immunotherapy in breast cancer

by Luca Licata, Marco Mariani, Federico Rossari, Giulia Viale, Giulia Notini, Matteo Maria Naldini, Carlo Bosi, Marta Piras, Matteo Dugo, Giampaolo Bianchini 

The Breast: Published: March 27, 2023

Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer therapy and now represent the mainstay of treatment for many tumor types, including triple-negative breast cancer and two agnostic registrations. However, despite impressive durable responses suggestive of an even curative potential in some cases, most patients receiving ICIs do not derive a substantial benefit, highlighting the need for more precise patient selection and stratification. The identification of predictive biomarkers of response to ICIs may play a pivotal role in optimizing the therapeutic use of such compounds. In this Review, we describe the current landscape of tissue and blood biomarkers that could serve as predictive factors for ICI treatment in breast cancer.

The integration of these biomarkers in a “holistic” perspective aimed at developing comprehensive panels of multiple predictive factors will be a major step forward towards precision immune-oncology.