A review on biomarkers in cancer immunotherapy: present and future

In recent years, developments in cancer immunotherapy have revolutionized cancer treatment, utilizing the immune system to fight malignancies with unprecedented precision and effectiveness. However, the heterogeneity of responses observed across patients undergoing immunotherapeutic interventions underscores the need for reliable biomarkers that can predict treatment outcomes and guide clinical decision-making. This mini-review explores the evolving role of biomarkers in cancer immunotherapy, focusing on their potential to enhance patient stratification, monitor treatment response, and identify mechanisms of resistance. Our discussion focuses on immunotherapy biomarker research in the present day, highlighting the utility of immune cell profiling, mutational burden analysis, and tumor microenvironment characterization. Moreover, we review the promising use of liquid biopsy-based biomarkers and the integration of advanced omics technologies in refining predictive and prognostic biomarker signatures. As the field of cancer immunotherapy continues to advance, the integration of these biomarkers into clinical practice holds the promise of personalized treatment approaches, improved patient outcomes, and a deeper insight into how the immune system interacts with cancer. This mini-review highlights the importance of ongoing collaborative efforts between clinicians, researchers, and technology developers in shaping the future of cancer immunotherapy utilizing biomarkers.