Expression of beta2-microglobulin as a prognostic marker for tumour immune escape and resistance to cancer immunotherapy and a diagnostic biomarker for patient selection for specific gene therapy

Abstract

The present invention refers to a method of predicting or prognosticating the response of a human subject to immunotherapy (from hereinafter method of the invention), wherein the subject is suffering from a cancer disease, and wherein the method comprises using, as an indicator, expression levels of p2-microglobulin from the tumour cells of a biological sample of the subject; wherein the result is indicative of a negative response if the expression levels of β2-microglobulin are under-expressed in comparison to a reference sample and/or a positive control. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the expression levels are determined after said subject has been treated with immunotherapy.