Doha: Researchers at the Translational Cancer and Immunity Center (TCIC), part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), recently published a new study on the clinical significance of a tumor-based molecular signature that can predict the clinical outcome of patients with seven different cancer types including brain, breast, kidney, skin, cervical and uterine, and head and neck cancers.
Led by Dr. Julie Decock, Scientist, TCIC, and Joint Assistant Professor at HBKU’s College of Health and Life Studies, the study was performed in collaboration with researchers from Sidra Medicine, HBKU’s Qatar Computing Research Institute, and investigators from Hamad Medical Corporation.
Using an in-depth analysis of the gene expression of tumors the researchers identified a set of molecules – a signature - that could help to distinguish patients with better survival prospects from those with a worse disease course.
“This research highlights an emerging topic in cancer research; the definition of ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ tumors as per the extent of tumor immune cell infiltration and activation, which can help to guide cancer treatment plans and approaches for precision medicine, said Dr. Decock.
"Using a multi-step approach and a mix of bioinformatic analysis with computational biology methods, we classified tumors from 18 different cancer types into ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ subgroups and identified a ‘signature’ that could potentially be used as a minimal informative signature in the clinic for not one but 7 different cancers.
"The small size of the signature and the fact that it retains its prognostic value across patient populations including Caucasian and Arab patients makes it a very promising tool for routine use by healthcare professionals,” added Dr. Decock.
