Advances in Immune Biomarkers for Predicting Disease Outcomes and Therapeutic Responses
Muhindo Anitah
Department of Pharmacy Kampala International University Uganda
Email: anitah.muhindo@studwc.kiu.ac.ug
ABSTRACT
Immune biomarkers have become crucial for predicting disease outcomes and guiding therapeutic responses, particularly in conditions like cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases. These biomarkers reflect the immune system’s state activation, suppression, or modulation providing valuable insights into prognosis, treatment efficacy, and potential side effects. With advancements in molecular and cellular technologies such as high-throughput sequencing, single cell analysis, and bioinformatics, the identification and utilization of immune biomarkers have significantly evolved. This review focuses on the classification of immune biomarkers, including cellular, soluble, genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic biomarkers, and their mechanisms in predicting disease progression and therapeutic responses. We highlight the role of immune biomarkers in oncology, where they are essential for immunotherapy response prediction (e.g., PD-L1 expression, tumor mutational burden), and in autoimmune diseases, where they aid in monitoring disease activity and response to treatments like biologics. Moreover, emerging techniques such as single-cell profiling and multiplex assays offer new opportunities for personalized medicine. However, challenges like immune system heterogeneity, dynamic biomarker levels, and assay standardization hinder their clinical application. As research advances, immune biomarkers will increasingly support precision medicine, offering personalized therapies that improve patient outcomes. This review discusses these advances, their clinical implications, and the challenges in integrating immune biomarkers into routine practice, while emphasizing the future potential for further breakthroughs.
Keywords: Immune biomarkers, disease outcomes, immunotherapy, autoimmune diseases, personalized medicine, therapeutic response
CITE AS: Muhindo Anitah (2024). Advances in Immune Biomarkers for Predicting Disease Outcomes and Therapeutic Responses. Research Output Journal of Public Health and Medicine 4(2):1-5. https://doi.org/10.59298/ROJPHM/2024/421500