Making it personal

摘要

In the 10 years that immunotherapy has evolved to bring real clinical applications, another field has had a large impact on the study of cancer biology. Genomics and high-throughput genetic sequencing technologies have gained importance as tools in cancer research and now the two fields are coming together. "It's become apparent not all patients respond to even these drugs we re excited about," says Pfizer's Robert Abraham. For scientists with a background in the genetics of cancer, and an interest in immunology, the questions of why some people respond differently to immunotherapies is ripe for study. Their findings- if they can link the genetics of a cancer to the success rate of immune-based drugs-may not only lead to a better understanding of the biology of tumor immune responses, but better, more targeted, care for patients.