A groundbreaking study led by a research group led by Professor Hidetoshi Hayashi of Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Specially Appointed Professor Kazuhiko Nakagawa of Kindai University Hospital Cancer Center, Professor Kenji Chamoto and Professor Tasuku Honjo of CCII, in collaboration with Sysmex Corporation, has shown that blood-based immune checkpoint factors can help predict the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapies, such as Opdivo, for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Using an innovative chemiluminescent assay, the team identified soluble immune checkpoint molecules as biomarkers that could improve treatment outcomes by identifying patient responses earlier and reducing unnecessary healthcare costs.

The findings, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation on 1st April 1 2024, mark a promising step toward more personalized cancer immunotherapy.