Journal of Cell Science and Mutations

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Perspective - Journal of Cell Science and Mutations (2023) Volume 7, Issue 3

Mutational burden as a predictor of response to immunotherapy in cancer patients

Geon Shanglira*

Department of Immunotherapy, Jilin University, Jilin, China

Corresponding Author:
Geon Shanglira
Department of Immunotherapy
Jilin University, Jilin, China
E-mail: geon@jlu.edu.cn

Received: 22-Apr-2023, Manuscript No. AAACSM-23-97305; Editor assigned: 23-Apr-2023, PreQC No. AAACSM-23-97305(PQ); Reviewed: 07-May-2023, QC No. AAACSM-23-97305; Revised: 11-May-2023, Manuscript No. AAACSM-23-97305(R); Published: 18-May-2023, DOI:10.35841/AAACSM-7.3.146

Citation: Shanglira G. Mutational burden as a predictor of response to immunotherapy in cancer patients. J Cell Sci Mut. 2023;7(3):146

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Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment for cancer patients. It involves activating the immune system to attack cancer cells. However, not all patients respond to immunotherapy. Mutational burden has been identified as a potential predictor of response to immunotherapy. Mutational burden refers to the number of mutations present in a tumour’s genome. Tumors with high mutational burden have been shown to be more responsive to immunotherapy. This article reviews the current literature on mutational burden as a predictor of response to immunotherapy. The article examines the mechanisms by which mutational burden influences response to immunotherapy. It also discusses the potential clinical applications of mutational burden in predicting response to immunotherapy 1.

The article finds that tumors with high mutational burden are more likely to be recognized by the immune system. This is because mutations can generate neoantigens, which are new proteins that are not normally present in the body. Neoantigens can be recognized by the immune system as foreign and targeted for destruction. Tumors with high mutational burden are more likely to have neoantigens, making them more vulnerable to immune attack. Clinical trials have shown that patients with high mutational burden tumors have better responses to immunotherapy. Mutational burden is a promising biomarker for predicting response to immunotherapy. It has the potential to guide treatment decisions and improve patient outcomes. Further research is needed to determine the optimal cutoff for defining high mutational burden and to identify other factors that may influence response to immunotherapy. Nevertheless, mutational burden is an important tool for advancing precision oncology and personalized cancer treatment 2.

Mutational burden has been identified as a promising biomarker for predicting response to immunotherapy. The concept of mutational burden is based on the theory that tumors with a higher number of mutations are more likely to generate neoantigens, which can be recognized by the immune system and targeted for destruction. The higher the number of neoantigens, the greater the likelihood of immune recognition and response 3.

The association between mutational burden and response to immunotherapy has been demonstrated in several clinical trials. In one study of patients with advanced melanoma, high mutational burden was associated with improved response to treatment with the immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab (Keytruda). Similarly, in a study of patients with non-small cell lung cancer, high mutational burden was associated with improved response to the immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab (Opdivo) . Mutational burden has also been shown to be a predictive biomarker for response to combination immunotherapy. In a study of patients with metastatic melanoma, high mutational burden was associated with improved response to treatment with a combination of ipilimumab (Yervoy) and nivolumab (Opdivo). Similarly, in a study of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma, high mutational burden was associated with improved response to treatment with a combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab 4.

The use of mutational burden as a biomarker for predicting response to immunotherapy has several advantages. It is a simple and objective measure that can be readily assessed from tumor sequencing data. In addition, it can be used across a wide range of tumor types and immunotherapeutic agents. However, there are several limitations to the use of mutational burden as a biomarker. The optimal cutoff for defining high mutational burden has not been established. In addition, other factors, such as tumor heterogeneity, immune cell infiltration, and tumor microenvironment, may also influence response to immunotherapy. It is also important to note that not all patients with high mutational burden tumors will respond to immunotherapy, and some patients with low mutational burden tumors may still respond 5.

Mutational burden is a promising biomarker for predicting response to immunotherapy. It has the potential to guide treatment decisions and improve patient outcomes. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal cutoff for defining high mutational burden and to identify other factors that may influence response to immunotherapy. Nevertheless, mutational burden is an important tool for advancing precision oncology and personalized cancer treatment.

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