Characterization of immune mechanisms and systemic biomarkers associated with the lack of response and development of adverse events in cancer patients treated with immunotherapy

• Grant number: 19/08517-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2019
• End date: December 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Cellular Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Kenneth John Gollob
• Grantee: Guilherme Ferreira de Britto Evangelista
• Host Institution: A C Camargo Cancer Center. Fundação Antonio Prudente (FAP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Immunotherapy has received great attention in the last few years due to its promising results in the control of aggressive tumors and refractory to conventional treatments. Although some patients show good response, the failure treatment rate is still elevated. In addition, the development rate of immune-mediated adverse events is also high. These events compromise the patient's life quality and in certain situations can lead to death. Elucidating the factors which are responsible for failure to respond to immunotherapy, as well as the development of immune-mediated adverse events is critical to characterizing molecular and cellular response predictors that are capable of being detected in the bloodstream before and after treatment. In this study, we intend to conduct a prospective noninterventional cohort study with patients submitted to immunotherapy at the Immunotherapy Center of the AC Camargo Cancer Center. Approximately 30 patients with different types of tumors will be recruited, whose peripheral blood will be collected prior to initiation of treatment and up to 2 times after initiation of treatment to determine the T cell and APC immune profile by multiparametric flow cytometry (by FACSymphony), and the immune profile of soluble components (by Bioplex platform). With the obtained data, we intend to identify the profile of the immune response of each case and regulatory mechanisms related to the clinical outcome.