Identifying potential immuno-oncology targets in salivary gland cancer

In collaboration with Dr. Joao N. Ferreira and Avatar Biotechnologies for Oral Health and Healthy Longevity, Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, the researchers and student from SiSP helped perform multiplex immunofluorescent (mIF) staining experiment and nanoString data analysis in the study on biomarker discovery project of mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a rare malignant tumor of the salivary glands. This study analyzed FFPE biopsied specimens from patients with mucoepidermoid carcinoma using several techniques, i.e., nanoString nCounter® Technology for immune-associated gene expression analysis, and mIF staining for immune cells evaluation, to identify potential biomarkers for precision immuno-oncology treatment. The researchers found that there was a significantly increase in the number of immune cells in the tumor area of non-responders compared with the responders. Moreover, the leukocyte activation gene expression profiles were different between responders and non-responders. From these findings, further and more in-depth studies are needed to narrow down the predictive markers, utilizing personalized immunotherapies in patients with mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

Further details can be read via the following link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jop.13488