The recent study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting delves into the tumor immune microenvironments of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) at both primary and metastatic sites. The purpose of this study is to explore how the immune composition within the tumor may influence the effectiveness of checkpoint inhibitors. Yuan Yuan, MD, PhD, the director of breast oncology at Cedars-Sinai Cancer Center in Los Angeles, provided insights into the background and the hypothesis-generating discoveries of the study.
Genomic Profiling and Metastasis
The study undertook genomic profiling of over 1,000 patients diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, collaborating with Tempus Genomics. By analyzing the patients who underwent standard care genomic sequencing through Tempus Platform, researchers compared the different sites of metastasis, including the breast, liver, lymph nodes, lungs, and bones. The primary focus was on understanding the changes in the tumor microenvironment across these various sites.
Liver metastasis and bone metastasis often signal different prognoses for patients with TNBC. Clinicians have historically observed that patients with liver metastasis tend to have poorer outcomes. In the age of immunotherapy, the study aimed to identify the tumor microenvironment alterations that occur in different metastatic sites.
Racial Disparities and Immune Response
The researchers observed significant differences when comparing the immune composition of different metastatic sites. Liver metastases exhibited characteristics of an immune-cold tumor, with a higher percentage of macrophages and lower levels of B cells, CD4 T cells, and CD8 T cells. Additionally, the study included over 200 patients from an African American background, allowing for the exploration of potential racial disparities and differences in immune response across different ethnicities.
Subsequently, the researchers discovered intriguing preliminary findings within the African American population. There were variations in cell populations when compared to their white counterparts, indicating the presence of unique immune responses based on racial background. To further validate these findings, the research team plans to extend this analysis using their existing retrospective dataset at Cedar-Sinai.
This study sheds light on the intricate relationship between tumor microenvironments and immune responses in triple-negative breast cancer. By understanding the variations in immune composition at different metastatic sites and across diverse racial groups, researchers aim to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy and personalized treatment strategies for patients with TNBC.
Leave a Reply