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  • Photo of a Masters by research student

    Luisa Pinnel

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TCR Repertoire and HLA Genotype as Response Biomarkers to Checkpoint Blockade Immunotherapy in Advanced Melanoma Patients

Student name:

Luisa Pinnel is a Masters by Research candidate and Research Assistant in the cancer program.

Supervisors:

  1. Dr Aaron Beasley
  2. Professor Elin Gray

Summary of Thesis:

For over a decade, advanced melanoma patients have benefited from immunotherapy, however, while many patients experience a positive clinical response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, almost 50% of patients still succumb to the disease. Blood-based biomarkers such as T-Cell Receptor (TCR) Repertoire and Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA) genotype are of interest because they can provide information relevant to the potential and pre-existing anti-tumour immune response. HLA molecules are critical for presenting tumour-derived neoepitopes and other cellular antigens to TCRs on T-cells to trigger signals to activate or inhibit T-cell proliferation and differentiation, producing an immune response when needed.

This study aims to evaluate the circulating TCR repertoire and HLA genotype as predictive biomarkers of response to immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment by evaluating the association between clinical benefit and survival outcomes relative to the two biomarkers. This project will be of significant value in increasing the knowledge around the value of the circulating TCR repertoire and HLA genotype as biomarkers to guide clinical decision-making to revolutionise and personalise immunotherapy.

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