Methods and materials for treating cancer
This document provides methods and materials involved in treating cancer. For example, methods and materials for identifying a mammal as having an elevated level of PD-1 + /CD11a high CD8 T cells having the potential to exert anti-cancer effects are provided. In addition, methods and materials for identifying a mammal as having an elevated level of PD-1 + /CD11a high CD8 T cells and administering a PD-1 inhibitor to such a mammal are provided.
1. A method for treating a mammal having cancer, wherein said method comprises:
(a) identifying said mammal as having an elevated level of PD-1 + /CD11a high CD8 T cells within a blood, body fluid, or tumor samplerelative to a reference level of PD-1 30 /CD11a high CD8 T cells in mammals without cancer, and
(b) administering a PD-1 inhibitor to said mammal, wherein naturally-occurring tumor-reactive CD8 CTLs within a PD-1 + /CD11a high CD8 T cell population of said mammal exert an anti-cancer effect against said cancer.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said mammal is a human.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said elevated level is determined using flow cytometry.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said cancer is a melanoma cancer, a breast cancer, a lung cancer, a renal cell carcinoma cancer, a pancreas cancer, a prostate cancer, a colon cancer, a brain cancer, a liver cancer, or an ovarian cancer.
5. A method for treating cancer, wherein said method comprises administering a PD-1 inhibitor to a mammal identified as having an elevated level of PD-1 + /CD11a high CD8 T cells within a blood, body fluid, or tumor sample relative to a reference level of PD-1 30 /CD11a high CD8 T cells in mammals without cancer, wherein naturally-occurring tumor-reactive CD8 CTLs within a PD-1 + /CD11a high CD8 T cell population of said mammal exert an anti-cancer effect against said cancer.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said mammal is a human.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein said cancer is a melanoma cancer, a breast cancer, a lung cancer, a renal cell carcinoma cancer, a pancreas cancer, a prostate cancer, a colon cancer, a brain cancer, a liver cancer, or an ovarian cancer.