Question ID: WS-57
Submitted by: Masoud Manjili
February 11, 2011
Do tumor-infiltrating immune cells play a critical role in determining response to chemotherapy? Background: Breast cancer patients who respond to chemotherapy and do not relapse usually have tumor-infiltrating immune cells and the signature of immune function genes in their tumor lesions. It is also known that chemotherapy may not induce complete rejection of the tumors but rather leave undetectable minimal residual tumor cells behind. Immune response is also known to be more efficient in rejecting minimal residual tumors than bulky tumors. Feasibility: Gene array technology as well as IHC and real-time PCR are available to identify signatures of immune function genes in the tumor. Implications of success: If we can identify the signature of immune function genes associated with good prognosis, we will be able to develop neuadjuvant immunotherapy in order to induce tumor-specific immune responses in patients with high risk of relapse. Such immune responses may then take care of minimal residual disease that was generated by chemotherapy.
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