Inflammatory B cells correlate with failure to checkpoint blockade in melanoma patients. (1st January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Jonge, Kaat; Tillé, Laure; Lourenco, Joao; Maby-El Hajjami, Hélène; Nassiri, Sina; Racle, Julien; Gfeller, David; Delorenzi, Mauro; Verdeil, Grégory; Baumgaertner, Petra; Speiser, Daniel E.
• Is Part Of: Oncoimmunology. Volume 10:Number 1(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01-01
• Subjects: B cells -- tumor microenvironment -- immune checkpoint -- melanoma -- inflammation; Tumors -- Immunological aspects -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- therapy -- Periodicals; Immunotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1080/2162402X.2021.1873585
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2162-402X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The understanding of the role of B cells in patients with solid tumors remains insufficient. We found that circulating B cells produced TNFα and/or IL-6, associated with unresponsiveness and poor overall survival of melanoma patients treated with anti-CTLA4 antibody. Transcriptome analysis of B cells from melanoma metastases showed enriched expression of inflammatory response genes. Publicly available single B cell data from the tumor microenvironment revealed a negative correlation between TNFα expression and response to immune checkpoint blockade. These findings suggest that B cells contribute to tumor growth via the production of inflammatory cytokines. Possibly, these B cells are different from tertiary lymphoid structure-associated B cells, which have been described to correlate with favorable clinical outcome of cancer patients. Further studies are required to identify and characterize B cell subsets and their functions promoting or counteracting tumor growth, with the aim to identify biomarkers and novel treatment targets.