Tumor Microenvironment Classification for Immune Escape Profiling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cancer therapies face resistance due to tumor immune escape mechanisms, which include factors such as antigen presentation machinery loss and cytotoxic cell exclusion within the tumor microenvironment.
Innovation Solution
A method for determining a tumor microenvironment (TME) type by analyzing RNA expression levels of specific gene groups using computer hardware processors, generating a TME signature, and identifying the TME type from a plurality of types based on gene group scores.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tumor immune escape mechanisms are present (antigen presentation loss, cytotoxic cell exclusion), then cancer therapy resistance occurs, but existing therapies fail to overcome this resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex tumor microenvironment into distinct classification types (TME types) based on gene expression profiles. This segmentation allows for identifying specific immune escape mechanisms active in each TME type, enabling targeted therapeutic approaches rather than uniform treatment, thereby overcoming therapy resistance caused by diverse immune escape mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes gene expression levels as parameters to classify TME types and identify immune escape mechanisms. By measuring and analyzing expression levels of specific genes associated with antigen presentation, immune cell infiltration, and other TME characteristics, the system dynamically characterizes the tumor environment and matches it with appropriate therapies, overcoming the static nature of conventional treatment approaches.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive RNA expression analysis is performed to characterize TME types, then accurate prognosis and therapy response prediction is achieved, but computational complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and focuses on specific gene groups and signature genes that are most relevant to TME classification and immune escape mechanism identification. Rather than analyzing all genes, the method selects key genes associated with specific TME types and therapeutic responses, reducing computational complexity while maintaining high measurement precision in characterizing the tumor microenvironment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary classification of TME types based on gene expression profiles before selecting and administering specific therapies. This preliminary action of categorizing the tumor microenvironment into distinct types enables subsequent targeted treatment decisions, simplifying the overall treatment planning process while maintaining high accuracy in prognosis and therapy response prediction.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media that are useful for characterizing subjects having certain cancers, for example cancers typified by solid tumors. The disclosure is based, in part, on methods for determining a tumor microenvironment (TME) type of a cancer subject and determining the subject's prognosis and/or likelihood of responding to one or more therapies based upon the TME type determination.