Response and resistance in immuno-oncology

Published January 25, 2021

Find resources and tools for understanding tumor-specific response and resistance to cancer immunotherapies.  

Overview

• What is immunotherapy?
• The role of the immune system
• Flexible, validated research solutions
  • Key targets involved in tumor resistance: STING, IDO1, and VISTA
    • STING
    • IDO1
    • VISTA
  • New flow cytometry antibodies to support the studies of live cells
  • Antibody panels to increase your chance of success
• Advancing immuno-oncology research, together

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​What is immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is a revolutionary approach to cancer treatment that helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells¹. Current immunotherapies include immune checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cells, vaccines, and monoclonal antibodies that, for a subset of patients, has provided long-term, durable responses to a variety of cancers. However, some patients fail to respond to treatment at all, while others achieve a limited response followed by tumor progression. Therefore, understanding the factors that contribute to an effective response and determining mechanisms of resistance will be critical as immunotherapies are applied more broadly².

The role of the immune system

The function of the immune system is to protect against disease and clear the body of unhealthy, ailing cells, including cancer cells. T cells selectively recognize and kill pathogens and unhealthy cells by orchestrating a coordinated immune response, including innate and adaptive responses.  However, various cancers have unique triggers that result in evasion from the immune response, making them more resistant to immunity³.

Immunotherapy involves strengthening the cancer patient’s immune system by improving its tumor recognition ability or providing a missing immune effector function to provide durable, adaptable cancer control^4,5.

​Flexible, validated research solutions

Discover reagents to novel targets and emerging multiplex technologies to support your immuno-oncology research and assay development. Here we’ve highlighted key products so you can easily select the best one. ​​

Key targets involved in tumor resistance: STING, IDO1, and VISTA 

STING

​Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is a signaling molecule that plays a crucial role in controlling the transcription of many host defense genes such as pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Previous studies into the roles of STING in immunomodulation showed the potential of STING agonists as cancer therapeutics to activate antitumor immune responses⁶.​

Product highlight

	​Recombinant STING (Anti-TMEM173 antibody [EPR13130-55] (ab239074) Rabbit monoclonal to STING Suitable for: WB, ICC/IF, IP, IHC-P, Flow Cyt Reacts with: Human

View the full range of products to STING

IDO1

​Indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenases (IDO1 and IDO2) are tryptophan catabolic enzymes that catalyze the conversion of tryptophan into kynurenine. The resulting depletion of tryptophan and subsequent increase in kynurenine exert important immunosuppressive functions, thus making IDO1 a potential therapeutic opportunity in cancer immunotherapy⁷. ​

​Product highlight

	Recombinant IDO1 (anti-Indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase)  antibody [EPR20374] (ab211017) Rabbit monoclonal to Indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase Suitable for: WB, ICC/IF, Flow Cyt, IP, IHC-P Reacts with: Human

View all products to IDO1 here

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VISTA

V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) is a novel checkpoint inhibitor that is a promising target for immunotherapeutic intervention due to its role in regulating innate and adaptive immune responses⁸.

Product highlight