Mia's Feed
Medical News & Research

Chromosomal Abnormality Scores Pave the Way for Personalized Cancer Immunotherapy

Chromosomal Abnormality Scores Pave the Way for Personalized Cancer Immunotherapy

Share this article

New research reveals tumor chromosomal abnormalities, especially aneuploidy, as key biomarkers for predicting and overcoming resistance to cancer immunotherapy, paving the way for personalized treatment strategies.

2 min read

Recent research published in Nature Genetics highlights the potential of tumor chromosomal abnormalities, particularly aneuploidy, as a significant biomarker for predicting how patients respond to immunotherapy. Conducted by scientists at the University of Chicago, the study demonstrates that high levels of chromosomal imbalance in tumors correlate with resistance to immunotherapy across various cancer types. Notably, the research emphasizes the promising strategy of combining radiation therapy with immune checkpoint blockade to overcome this resistance.

Immunotherapy has greatly advanced cancer treatment, yet it remains ineffective in a large proportion of patients—up to 80-90%—underscoring the need for better predictive markers. The team analyzed blood and tissue samples, revealing that tumors exhibiting high aneuploidy tend to evade immune detection, resulting in poorer responses to therapy. Importantly, their findings show that adding radiation therapy can reprogram the tumor microenvironment, potentially reversing immune resistance by eliminating immunosuppressive cells and enhancing immune cell infiltration.

These insights build upon previous studies indicating that chromosomal abnormalities serve as crucial biomarkers for immunotherapy outcomes. By quantifying aneuploidy scores through advanced genomic techniques such as next-generation sequencing, the researchers propose integrating this measure into clinical practice. This approach would complement existing biomarkers like tumor mutational burden (TMB) and PD-L1 expression, especially valuable in cases where TMB is low.

The study advocates for leveraging aneuploidy scoring to personalize treatment plans. This could involve selecting patients more likely to benefit from combined radiation and immunotherapy, leading to more targeted and effective interventions. Moreover, Pitroda’s team is working to embed this biomarker into routine genomic testing platforms, supporting precision oncology efforts.

While targeting chromosomal abnormalities directly remains complex, understanding their role in therapy resistance opens new avenues for drug development, especially for tumors with predictable aneuploidy patterns. Ultimately, tumor aneuploidy emerges as a powerful prognostic and predictive tool, guiding clinicians in optimizing immunotherapy strategies and improving patient outcomes.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-chromosomal-abnormality-scores-path-personalized.html

Stay Updated with Mia's Feed

Get the latest health & wellness insights delivered straight to your inbox.

How often would you like updates?

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

Related Articles

Large-scale Study Finds No Significant Increase in Cancer Risk with JAK Inhibitors for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

A large international study shows no significant overall increase in cancer risk for rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with JAK inhibitors, supporting their continued use under careful monitoring.

Innovative Assessment Tools Enhance Diagnosis and Recovery Tracking in Brain Injury Care

New assessment framework for traumatic brain injury enhances diagnosis accuracy and personalized treatment through biomarkers, imaging, and injury modifiers, supporting better recovery outcomes.

Study Finds Regional Nodal Irradiation Does Not Lower Invasive Breast Cancer Recurrence Rates

A major study shows that adding regional nodal irradiation does not significantly reduce invasive breast cancer recurrence in certain patients after chemotherapy. Learn more about these new insights in breast cancer treatment.