Next-generation immune profiling – beyond blood cancer cells
Susanne Unger, Nicolás Gonzalo Núñez, Burkhard Becher, Stefanie Kreutmair
Abstract
The 2022 World Health Organization and International Consensus Classification (WHO/ICC 2022) diagnostic classifications for hematological malignancies remain focused on cancer cell characteristics, largely neglecting the immune environment. This disconnection limits diagnostic accuracy and the potential for tailored and individualized therapeutic intervention. The potential for exploiting the nonmalignant immune compartment as therapy targets (e.g., bispecific antibodies) or biomarkers of patient outcomes, should be included in guiding clinical decision making. To bridge this gap, distinct immune profile classifications, such as inflammatory subtypes, need standardized definitions. Next-generation profiling technologies - including single-cell sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and advanced cytometry - should be integrated into clinical workflows or translated into practical diagnostic tools. Therefore, next-generation immune profiling for hematological malignancies goes beyond the cancer cells - enabling improved disease classification and precision immunotherapies.