METHODS FOR DETECTING CANCER-RELATED CELL POPULATIONS, SCREENING FOR METASTATIC CANCER AND TREATMENTS THEREOF

摘要

Provided are methods involving the assaying of a labeled cell suspension, e.g., to detect cancer-related cells, populations thereof and/or screen for metastatic cancer. Labeled cell suspensions may be assayed to detect whether a tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) population is present in a cellular suspension of a subject. Cancer-related cell populations of interest include, e.g., those expressing one or more markers, including where the markers are members of a marker panel. Markers assayed may vary depending on the context and may include protein markers, nucleic acid markers, cell cycle markers, DNA content markers, and the like. Useful markers include one or more immune checkpoint markers and/or one or more immune cell-type markers, including where the marker(s) assayed are part of one or more panels of markers. Also provided are methods of treating a subject for a neoplasia based on the outcome of an assay of a labeled cell suspension of sample from a subject. Kits for practicing the described methods are also provided.