Methods for the monitoring and prognosis of a cancer

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for prognosis and monitoring of a cancer, preferably bladder cancer, by measuring the proportion of CD8+ T Lymphocytes expressing ILT-2 and the plasma level of soluble HLA-G. The invention also relates to anti HLA-G antibodies for use for treating a cancer in which tumor cells express HLA-G, preferably bladder cancer.

1 . A method for monitoring the recurrence of a cancer in a patient, comprising a step of measuring the proportion of CD8+ T lymphocytes population expressing ILT-2 within the total population of CD8+ T lymphocytes in a biological sample obtained from said patient, wherein when said proportion is high, then the patient is classified as high risk. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein it is performed within a year after surgery of said patient. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the biological sample is a blood sample or a plasma sample. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein when said proportion is of at least 34%, then the patient is classified as high risk. 
     
     
         5 . A method for monitoring the recurrence of a cancer in a patient, or for the prognosis of the outcome of a patient afflicted by a cancer, comprising:
 a) a step of measuring the plasma level of soluble HLA-G in a first biological sample obtained from said patient, and   b) a step of measuring the proportion of CD8+ T lymphocytes population expressing ILT-2 within the total population of CD8+ T lymphocytes in a second biological sample obtained from said patient,   and wherein:
 when the proportion measured at step b) is less than 20%, then the patient is classified as non-high risk, and 
 when the proportion measured at step b) is more than 20% and the plasma level of soluble HLA-G is more than 20 ng/mL, then the patient is classified as high risk. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising a step c) of measuring the proportion of NKT cells population expressing ILT-2 within the total population of NKT cells in a third biological sample obtained from said patient, wherein when the proportion measured at step c) is more than 45%, then the patient is classified as high risk. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cancer is chosen from bladder cancer, kidney cancer, urogenital cancer, and melanoma. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cancer is non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said first, second and optionally third biological samples are different samples, or said first, second and optionally third biological sample is a unique sample. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said first, second or optionally third biological sample is a blood sample or a plasma sample. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of measuring the proportion of CD8+ T lymphocytes population expressing ILT-2 within the total population of CD8+ T lymphocytes is performed by flow cytometry. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein step a) is performed by immunoassay. 
     
     
         13 . A kit comprising:
 means for measuring soluble HLA-G in a biological sample; and   means for detecting the presence of CD8+ T lymphocytes expressing ILT-2 in a biological sample.   
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The kit according to  claim 13 , wherein said sample is a plasma sample. 
     
     
         16 . A method for treating a cancer in which tumor cells express HLA-G, comprising administrating an anti HLA-G antibody. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said cancer is a bladder cancer. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said cancer is a non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.