IMMUNOSCOR

Advance in the accuracy of predicting the patient prognosis is required. Major recent advances were made demonstrating the major importance of infiltrating immune cells. We provided evidence that the type, the density and the location of immune cells within tumor strongly influence the outcome of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients (Pagès F et al, N Engl J Med 2005; Galon J et al, Science 2006; Pagès F et al, J Clin Oncol 2009; Mlecnik B et al, J Clin Oncol 2011, Bindea G et al. Immunity 2013).

To translate this information to the clinic we developed an “Immunoscore” method based on the quantification of T cell subsets (CD3/CD8) in two tumor regions (core and invasive margin of tumors). Importantly, Dr Galon’s laboratory together with the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC, USA) is promoting an international task force to validate the “Immunoscore” and its major prognostic value.

This project represents a unique opportunity to investigate large European cohorts of patients from a multidisciplinary perspective using latest techniques to investigate the interplay between the tumor (genomic signature) and the host (standardized immune test, Immunoscore) (Galon J et et J Pathol 2013).

Beyond the classical cancer staging, the Immunoscore will better predict the outcome of each patient (Prognostic aspect), the response to treatment (Theranostic aspect), at the time of diagnosis and during the course of the disease.

Advance in the accuracy of predicting the patient prognosis is required. Major recent advances were made demonstrating the major importance of infiltrating immune cells. We provided evidence that the type, the density and the location of immune cells within tumor strongly influence the outcome of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

To translate this information to the clinic we developed an “Immunoscore” method based on the quantification of T cell subsets (CD3/CD8) in two tumor regions (core and invasive margin of tumors). Importantly, Dr Galon’s laboratory is promoting an international task force to validate the consensus “Immunoscore” and its major prognostic value (Galon J et et J Pathol 2013).

This project represents a unique opportunity to investigate large European cohorts of patients from a multidisciplinary perspective using latest techniques to investigate the interplay between the tumor (genomic signature) and the host (standardized immune test, Immunoscore). Beyond the classical cancer staging, the Immunoscore will better predict the outcome of each patient (Prognostic aspect), the response to treatment (Theranostic aspect), at the time of diagnosis and during the course of the disease.

Our results indicate that assessment of the immune status via Immunoscore provides a potent indicator of tumor recurrence beyond microsatellite-instability staging and mutations that could be an important guide for immunotherapy strategies. We showed a comprehensive intrametastatic immune quantification and major impact of Immunoscore on survival. Recent results to be published into The Lancet, validated the consensus Immunoscore for the prognostic classification of colon cancer (Pages et al. The Lancet 2018 in press).