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Biomarkers of immunotherapy response in breast cancer beyond PD-L1

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Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have modified the treatment algorithm in a variety of cancer types, including breast cancer. Nevertheless, optimal selection of ideal candidates to these drugs remains an unmet need. Although PD-L1 expression by immunohistochemistry seems to be the most promising biomarker to date, its predictive ability is far from ideal. Thus, the development of new predictive biomarkers is essential for a better selection of patients. Here, we discuss potential biomarkers beyond PD-L1 that could play an important role in precision cancer immunotherapy.

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Acknowledgements

This study has received funding from Generalitat de Catalunya Peris PhD4MD 2019 SLT008/18/00122 (to N.C.), Fundación Científica Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer AECC_Postdoctoral17-1062 (to F.B-M.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Translational Genomics and Targeted Therapies in Solid Tumors, August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain

    Nuria Chic, Fara Brasó-Maristany & Aleix Prat

  2. Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Carrer de Villarroel, 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain

    Nuria Chic, Fara Brasó-Maristany & Aleix Prat

  3. SOLTI Cooperative Group, Barcelona, Spain

    Nuria Chic, Fara Brasó-Maristany & Aleix Prat

  4. Department of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Aleix Prat

  5. Institute of Oncology (IOB)-Quiron, Barcelona, Spain

    Aleix Prat

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  1. Nuria Chic
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Correspondence to Aleix Prat.

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Conflict of interest

A.P. reports advisory and consulting fees from Roche, Pfizer, Novartis, Amgen, BMS, Puma, Oncolytics Biotech, MSD, Guardant Health, Peptomyc and Lilly, lecture fees from Roche, Pfizer, Novartis, Amgen, BMS, Nanostring Technologies and Daiichi Sankyo, institutional financial interests from Boehringer, Novartis, Roche, Nanostring, Sysmex Europa GmbH, Medica Scientia inno. Research, SL, Celgene, Astellas and Pfizer; a leadership role in Reveal Genomics, SL; and a patent PCT/EP2016/080056.

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Chic, N., Brasó-Maristany, F. & Prat, A. Biomarkers of immunotherapy response in breast cancer beyond PD-L1. Breast Cancer Res Treat 191, 39–49 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-021-06421-2

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