Treatment with an IL-2 based therapy

A method of selecting and treating an individual for cancer with an IL-2-based therapy, wherein the cancer is melanoma or renal cell carcinoma, the method comprising:

• (a) measuring the expression levels of at least three biomarkers selected from a panel of biomarkers in a sample from an individual, wherein either (1) the individual has received at least one dose of an IL-2-based therapy or (2) the sample is combined with IL-2 in vitro, wherein the sample comprises mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), wherein the biomarkers are indicative of cellular senescence of the cells in the sample, and wherein the panel of biomarkers comprises FGF1, FGF11, FGF14, IL-32, IL-6, ILIRN, IL-20RB, IL-21R, PLAU, PLEKHA6, CTSB, FERMT1, CRMP1, VEGFB, VEGFA, and PLEKHA1;
• (b) comparing the levels of the biomarkers to reference levels to query the senescence status of the MSCs, wherein a decrease or no change in the levels compared to the reference levels indicates that the individual may not experience an adverse event associated with the IL-2-based therapy, wherein the adverse event is one or more of an increased risk of tumorigenesis and an increased risk of metastasis;
• (c) selecting the individual for treating using the comparison of step (b), wherein the sample from the individual shows a decrease or no change in the levels compared to the reference levels indicating that the individual may not experience an adverse event associated with the IL-2-based therapy;
• and
• (d) administering an effective amount of the IL-2-based therapy to the selected individual.