Translation in Immunology: The Role of Translational Biomarkers to Guide Clinical Use of Immunotherapy for Cancer

Although the immunotherapy field has had successes over the past two decades with the implementation of monoclonal antibodies (e.g., trastuzumab and rituximab) and cytokines (e.g., IL-2 and IFNγ), only within the last few years has it revolutionized cancer treatment. This is largely due to the development of immune checkpoint blockade, which because of its wider applicability to multiple malignancies, has resulted in a revolutionary shift in the treatment of cancer. Despite the success of immune checkpoint blockade, the clinical responses are not universal. Specific translational markers are needed to identify patients who are more likely to benefit from this therapy. To date, only two PDL-1 immunohistochemistry assays have been approved by the FDA and are currently in clinical use. However, as our understanding of the interplay between the immune system and the tumor microenvironment grows, novel mechanistic-based biomarkers will enable informed, personalized approaches to the novel immune-based approaches under development.