Immune Gene Signatures in Cancer

Abstract

This invention relates to methods for selecting a treatment, treating, and predicting survival time in subjects with cancer, such as colorectal cancer, based on tumor expression levels of chemokines, cytotoxic genes, and/or dendritic cell genes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a subject who has a solid tumor, the method comprising: obtaining cells from the tumor; determining gene expression levels of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), CCL3, CCL4, CCL5, CCL8, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 18 (pulmonary and activation-regulated) (CCL18), CCL19, CCL21, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 9 (CXCL9), CXCL10, CXCL11, and CXCL13 in the tumor cells; comparing the tumor gene expression levels to reference gene expression levels; identifying a subject who has tumor gene expression levels above the reference gene expression levels; and administering an immunotherapy treatment for cancer to a subject who has tumor gene expression levels above the reference gene expression levels. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining gene expression levels comprises determining protein levels or mRNA levels. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining mRNA levels comprises using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction or a gene chip. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tumor is non small cell lung cancer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment comprises administering cyclophosphamide; anti-interleukin-2R immunotoxin; and/or an anti-cancer antibody selected from the group consisting of anti-CD137, anti-programmed death-1 receptor (PD1), and anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4). 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the antibody is anti-CD137. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the antibody is anti-PD1. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the antibody is anti-CTLA-4.