Tumor immunotherapy has fundamentally changed cancer therapy by targeting the immune system to fight cancer cells. Innovative approaches such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, including antibodies against PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4, have achieved impressive success in various types of cancer and significantly improved the survival chances of many patients. In addition, personalized therapies such as adoptive T-cell therapies and cancer vaccines are gaining in importance and expanding the spectrum of oncological treatment options.

Despite this progress, there are challenges. Not all patients respond to immunotherapies due to tumor heterogeneity, immune evasion mechanisms and differences in the tumor microenvironment. In addition, immune-related side effects caused by over-activation of the immune system can affect multiple organ systems and complicate treatment. A key goal is therefore the development of reliable biomarkers that predict response to therapies, minimize side effects and enable targeted patient selection.

Biomarkers are indispensable in oncology to support treatment decisions and monitor disease progression. The expression of PD-L1, for example, is already established in clinical practice to guide the use of checkpoint inhibitors. Circulating biomarkers such as exosomes also offer non-invasive ways of monitoring disease progression and the effectiveness of therapies in real time. Nevertheless, many biomarkers show weaknesses in sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility, which underlines the need for more robust approaches.

New technologies such as spatial and single-cell omics promise to overcome these challenges. Spatial omics enables the analysis of molecular and cellular interactions in the tumor microenvironment, while single-cell omics maps cellular heterogeneity in detail at the single-cell level. These technologies help to identify new biomarkers associated with therapy response or resistance. For example, spatial transcriptomics provides insights into immune cell infiltration patterns, while single-cell RNA sequencing reveals rare cell populations that promote resistance mechanisms.

The integration of these advanced approaches deepens the understanding of tumor biology and paves the way for more precise, personalized immunotherapies. They represent the next generation of biomarker research that overcomes existing limitations and sustainably improves outcomes for cancer patients.

Original Paper:

Application of spatial and single-cell omics in tumor immunotherapy biomarkers – ScienceDirect

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Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR

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