Immunodynamic endpoint assessment

Immuno-prognostic Immunotherapeutic AreaImmunodynamic EndpointMethod of AssessmentSite of Assessment
Prognostic
ImmunoscoreT-cell infiltrateIHC: 1. CD8 2. CD45ROTumor
Therapeutic
Conventional Therapies
ChemotherapyImmunogenic Cell DeathIHC: 1. phosphorylated eIF2α 2. nuclear HMGB1 (late apoptosis-related marker) 3. LC3-B (autophagosome-related marker) 4. Mx1 and TLR3 (IFN signature) 5. CD8/Foxp3 or CD8/CD68 ratiosTumor
Gene expression analyses: 1. Cxcl10 2. IFNb 3. TLR3Tumor
Radiation therapyTumor immunogenicityGene expression analysis: 1. Immunologic constant region (ICR)Tumor
Radiation induced T and NK activationIHC: 1. MICATumor
ELISPOT: 1. sMICA 2. anti-sMICA antibodiesPeripheral Blood - Serum
Memory T cell responseT cell receptor (TCR) repertoire analysisPBMCs
ITAs - Passive
Cellular Therapy
Adoptive T and NK cellsQuantification of adoptive cell populationFlow cytometry–based or PCR-based assessment of unique label in adoptive cell populationPBMCs
Chimeric AntigenReceptor (CAR) T cellsPhenotype of adoptive cell populationFlow cytometry based or PCR based assessment of phenotype of adoptive cell population (see Tables 3 and 4; activation and inhibitory markers including ICOS, 4-1BB, PD-1, PD-L1, OX-40, LAG-3, GITR, VISTA, LIGHT)PBMCs
Function of adoptive cell populationFlow cytometry based (perforin, granzyme, intracellular cytokine expression including IFN-γ), ELISPOT, in-vitro cytotoxicity (ie chromium release) or PCR based assessment of phenotype of adoptive cell population after antigen-specific (preferred, ie autologous tumor cells or tumor peptide pulsed T2 cells) or nonspecific stimulation (ie CD3/CD28, PMA, or ionomycin)PBMCs
ToxicityComprehensive cytokine assessment, CRPPeripheral Blood - Serum or plasma
ITAs - Active & Specific
Monoclonal Antibodies
Tumor-targetingTarget antigen expression in tumorIHC, multicolor IF, and/or in-situ gene expression of target antigen of mAb on tumor (CD20, HER2, EGFR)Tumor (primary, metastatic and circulating disease)
FcR polymorphismFcR genotype (FcgRIIIA, FcgRIIA)Peripheral blood – Mononuclear cells (genomic DNA)
Phenotype and function of immune (T and NK cell) responseT cell receptor (TCR) repertoire analysis Flow cytometry based or PCR based assessment of phenotype of T and NK cells (see Tables 3 and 4) and flow cytometry based (perforin, granzyme, intracellular cytokine expression including IFN-γ), ELISPOT, in-vitro cytotoxicity (ie chromium release) or PCR based assessment of phenotype T and NK cells after antigen-specific (preferred, ie autologous tumor cells or tumor peptide pulsed T2 cells) or nonspecific stimulation (ie CD3/CD28, PMA, or ionomycin)PBMCs
Systemic cytokine responseComprehensive cytokine assessment (IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-10) and serologic assessment (sIL-2Rα, MCP)Peripheral Blood - Serum or plasma
Immune-targeting, including checkpoint inhibitorsTarget expression in tumor microenvironmentIHC, multicolor IF, and/or in-situ gene expression of target on tumor and stroma (CTLA-4, PD-1, PD-L1, OX-40, 4-1BB, LAG-3, GITR, CD40)Tumor
Tumor infiltrating immune responseIHC: 1. Quantity and phenotype of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) 2. CD8 effector: CD4 regulatory T cell ratioTumor
Memory T cell responseT cell receptor (TCR) repertoire analysisPBMCs
Clinical responseCRP, LDH, WBC, ALC, MDSCsPeripheral Blood - Serum or plasma
ToxicityComprehensive cytokine assessmentPeripheral Blood - Serum or plasma
Vaccines
In-situ VaccinesCell-based VaccinesTarget antigen expression in tumorIHC, multicolor IF, and/or in-situ gene expression of target vaccination antigen on tumor (gp100, MART, Mucin)Tumor
 Dendritic Cell-based Vaccines Non–cell-based VaccinesT cell response postvaccination in tumorIHC, multicolor IF (pre/post assessment of ratio of Treg to Teffectors and CD1a, CD8, CD94; CD207 and HLA-DR), and/or in-situ gene expression of intratumoral T cell populationTumor
Quantification of T cell responseT cell receptor (TCR) repertoire analysis Flow cytometry based or PCR based assessment of tumor-specific T cells (dimer, tetramer, dextramer)PBMCs)
Phenotype of T cell responseT cell receptor (TCR) repertoire analysis Flow cytometry based or PCR based assessment of phenotype of tumor-specific T cells (see Table 3)PBMCs)
Function of T cell responseFlow cytometry based (perforin, granzyme, intracellular cytokine expression including IFN-γ), ELISPOT, in-vitro cytotoxicity (ie chromium release) or PCR based assessment of phenotype of tumor-specific T cells after antigen-specific (preferred, ie autologous tumor cells or tumor peptide pulsed T2 cells) or nonspecific stimulation (ie CD3/CD28, PMA, or ionomycin)PBMCs
Humoral response Systemic cytokine responseELISPOT tumor/antigen antibody response Comprehensive cytokine assessment (GM-CSF)Peripheral Blood - Serum or plasma
ITargeted AgentsActive & Nonspecific
CytokinesIntratumoral immune responseIHC, multicolor IF, and/or in-situ gene expression of intratumoral lymphocyte (T, B, and NK cell) populationTumor
Phenotype and function of immune(T and NK) responseT cell receptor (TCR) repertoire analysis Flow cytometry based or PCR based assessment of phenotype of T and NK cells (see Tables 3 and 4) and flow cytometry based (perforin, granzyme, intracellular cytokine expression including IFN-γ), ELISPOT, in-vitro cytotoxicity (ie chromium release) or PCR based assessment of phenotype T and NK cells after antigen-specific (preferred, ie autologous tumor cells or tumor peptide pulsed T2 cells) or nonspecific stimulation (ie CD3/CD28, PMA, or ionomycin)PBMCs
Systemic serologic and cytokine responseComprehensive cytokine assessment (IL-6, IFNγ, IL-10) and serologic assessment (sIL-2Rα, MCP)Peripheral Blood - Serum or plasma
IDO InhibitorsIDO expression in tumorIHC and/or in-situ gene expression of IDO1Tumor
Inhibition of IDO1 based on Kyn/Trp ratioKyn/Trp level and IHC of DC maturation status (CD80, CD86)Tumor & Peripheral Blood - Serum or plasma
Phenotype and function of immune (T and NK cell) responseT cell receptor (TCR) repertoire analysis Flow cytometry based or PCR based assessment of phenotype of T and NK cells (see Tables 3 and 4) and flow cytometry based (perforin, granzyme, intracellular cytokine expression including IFN-γ), ELISPOT, in-vitro cytotoxicity (ie chromium release) or PCR based assessment of phenotype T and NK cells after antigen-specific (preferred, ie autologous tumor cells or tumor peptide pulsed T2 cells) or nonspecific stimulation (ie CD3/CD28, PMA, or ionomycin)PBMCs

ALC absolute lymphocyte count, CRP C-reactive protein, DC dendritic cell, IDO indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase; IFN-γ interferon gamma, LDH lactate dehydrogenase, MCP Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1; MDSC myeloid-derived suppressor cells, PBMC peripheral blood mononuclear cells, sIL-2Rα, soluble IL-2 receptor-alpha, WBC white blood cell count