Multiplex flow cytometry-based assay for quantifying tumor- and virus-associated antibodies induced by immunotherapies

Abstract

Novel immunotherapies continue to be developed and tested for application against a plethora of diseases. The clinical translation of immunotherapies requires an understanding of their mechanisms. The contributions of antibodies in driving long-term responses following immunotherapies continue to be revealed given their diverse effector functions. Developing an in-depth understanding of the role of antibodies in treatment efficacy is required to optimize immunotherapies and improve the chance of successfully translating them into the clinic. However, analyses of antibody responses can be challenging in the context of antigen-agnostic immunotherapies, particularly in the context of cancers that lack pre-defined target antigens. As such, robust methods are needed to evaluate the capacity of a given immunotherapy to induce beneficial antibody responses, and to identify any therapy-limiting antibodies. We previously developed a comprehensive method for detecting antibody responses induced by antigen-agnostic immunotherapies for application in pre-clinical models of vaccinology and cancer therapy. Here, we extend this method to a high-throughput, flow cytometry-based assay able to identify and quantify isotype-specific virus- and tumor-associated antibody responses induced by immunotherapies using small sample volumes with rapid speed and high sensitivity. This method provides a valuable and flexible protocol for investigating antibody responses induced by immunotherapies, which researchers can use to expand their analyses and optimize their own treatment regimens.