Daijiworld Media Network – Jerusalem

Jerusalem, May 8: In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers from the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion) have identified a genetic "fingerprint" that could help determine which cancer patients are more likely to benefit from immunotherapy treatment. The study, published in Cell Genomics, holds significant promise for improving personalised cancer care, according to a report by Xinhua news agency.

Immunotherapy, which has emerged as a transformative approach in the fight against cancer, works by empowering the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells. Despite its effectiveness in many cases, the treatment does not yield consistent results across all patients—posing a major challenge for oncologists.

To address this gap, the Technion researchers conducted a large-scale meta-analysis involving single-cell RNA sequencing and T-cell receptor sequencing from cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy. Their goal was to pinpoint why some individuals respond positively to the therapy, while others do not.

The study focused on the genetic characteristics of T-cell clones—specialised immune cells that multiply to target specific threats once identified. The team found that while T-cell clones are present in both responsive and non-responsive patients, those who responded to treatment exhibited a distinct genetic signature that indicated heightened immune activity.

One of the most significant findings was related to the location of these T-cell clones. In patients who did not respond to immunotherapy, researchers discovered that some T-cell clones were found both in the bloodstream and in the tumour. In contrast, patients who benefited from the treatment had active T-cell clones that were concentrated within the tumour.

"This suggests that for an effective immune response, it is vital to activate T-cell clones that are localised solely in the tumour," the researchers said.

They believe this discovery will not only enhance clinicians’ ability to predict treatment outcomes but could also pave the way for new therapeutic approaches aimed at improving the precision and effectiveness of immunotherapy.

With cancer cases continuing to rise globally, this breakthrough could serve as a major stride toward more targeted and successful treatment strategies in oncology.