The study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting delved into the tumor immune microenvironments of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) at both the primary and metastatic sites. The objective was to explore how the immune composition could potentially influence the effectiveness of checkpoint inhibitors in treating TNBC.
Yuan Yuan, MD, PhD, who serves as the director of breast oncology at Cedars-Sinai Cancer Center in Los Angeles, presented the background and the thought-provoking discoveries of the study. The research involved genomic profiling of over 1,000 patients diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. By collaborating with Tempus Genomics, the study investigated the genomic sequencing of patients who underwent standard care, analyzing the differences in the tumor microenvironments across various metastatic sites such as the liver, lymph nodes, lungs, and bones.
A notable discovery was the distinct differences observed in tumor microenvironments when comparing various metastatic sites. Liver metastases were especially highlighted as having a more immune-cold tumor environment, characterized by a higher percentage of macrophages, and lower levels of B cells, as well as CD4 and CD8 T cells. This distinction is crucial as liver metastasis often carries a different prognosis compared to other sites of metastasis, indicating potential implications for the clinical outcomes of TNBC patients.
Moreover, the study included over 200 patients with African American ethnic backgrounds, enabling a closer examination of any racial disparities and variations in tumor microenvironments. The findings revealed intriguing differences in cell populations between African American patients and their white counterparts, suggesting the need for further investigation and validation. These preliminary results open up new avenues for research into understanding the impact of race on TNBC outcomes.
As the research progresses, the team aims to validate and expand upon these initial findings by leveraging their own retrospective dataset at the Cedars-Sinai Cancer Center. This forthcoming work promises to shed more light on the complex interplay between tumor microenvironments, ethnicity, and treatment outcomes in triple-negative breast cancer. By delving deeper into these factors, researchers hope to pave the way for more personalized and effective treatment strategies tailored to the unique characteristics of each patient. Stay tuned for further developments in this compelling area of cancer research.
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