[New paper] Insignificant effects of loss of heterozygosity in human leukocyte antigen on the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade treatment

Our new paper has been published in Genes & Genomics.

The goal of this study is to investigate quantitative relationship between HLA allelic copy loss and response rates to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Also, tumor microenvironment was computationally assessed in the tumors with HLA copy loss to provide potential mechanisms for the relationships. Unlike the general expectation, HLA allelic copy loss was not significantly associated with the ICB responses. Moreover, the relationship showed a reversed relationship in HLA-A in the urothelial cancer. Regardless of the HLA copy status, the proportion of cytotoxic immune cells in the immune environment of patients was correlated with ICB response, which was higher in the loss of heterozygosity group in the urothelial cohort.

This study has been mainly done by Yohan Yang and Sangwoo Kim. Eunyoung Kim participated in the study as authors.

Congratulations!

Insignificant effects of loss of heterozygosity in HLA in the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade treatment. Genes Genom 44, 509–515 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13258-021-01207-8.