Differences in immune cells predict skin cancer treatment outcomes
In a first-of-its-kind study by King's College London, researchers have linked changes in two major types of immune cells in blood to different survival outcomes for patients with melanoma. Melanoma, the fifth most common cancer in the U.K., is one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer but is highly treatable when caught early.
Researchers at King's College London have discovered that variations in specific immune cells in the blood can predict the outcomes of melanoma treatment. Melanoma, a form of skin cancer, can be challenging to treat, but early detection greatly increases the chances of success. Immunotherapy, which harnesses the body's own immune system to combat cancer cells, has shown promise in treating advanced melanoma, yet not all patients respond positively, and some experience severe side effects.
The study, published in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, identified changes in two types of white blood cells—B cells and T cells—that correlate with treatment success and side effects. Effective immunotherapy was linked to more efficient B-cell and T-cell responses. Patients whose B and T cells showed active activation and expansion within the first six weeks of treatment had better clinical outcomes, including increased survival rates.
Conversely, those with immature or poorly functioning B-cell populations during treatment experienced poorer outcomes. The study also revealed that certain T-cell subtypes were linked to treatment side effects. This research, involving 24 melanoma patients and 25 healthy volunteers, analyzed blood samples before and during treatment using mass cytometry, a technology that allows for detailed analysis of immune cells.
Lead author Lucy Booth, a Ph.D. student, highlighted the importance of B cells in determining survival and treatment outcomes in melanoma. The findings could pave the way for more personalized melanoma care, potentially identifying patients who are likely to benefit from immunotherapy, those at risk of side effects, and those requiring more frequent monitoring.
Future research aims to explore these immune cells within tumors and to replicate the study in a larger cohort or other cancers.
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