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New Biomarker USP22 Predicts Cancer Immunotherapy Resistance

Northwestern Medicine scientists discover USP22 biomarker predicting cancer immunotherapy resistance, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, with implications for personalized treatment.

This discovery matters because immunotherapy, while transformative for many cancer patients, fails in a significant portion of cases, leaving them with few alternatives. By identifying USP22 as a predictor of resistance, doctors can better tailor treatments, avoiding ineffective therapies and reducing side effects for non-responders. Moreover, it opens a direct path for developing new drugs that target USP22, potentially converting resistant cancers into treatable ones. For patients, this means more personalized care, improved survival odds, and hope where options were previously limited, accelerating the shift toward precision oncology that benefits individuals and healthcare systems by optimizing resource use.