Identification of patients in need of pd-l1 inhibitor cotherapy

Abstract

The present invention relates to means and methods for determining whether a patient is in need of a PD-L1 inhibitor cotherapy. A patient is determined to be in need of the PD-L1 inhibitor cotherapy if a low or absent ER expression level and an expression level of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) that is increased in comparison to a control is measured in vitro in a sample from the patient. The patient is undergoing therapy comprising a modulator of the HER2/neu (ErbB2) signaling pathway (like Trastuzumab) and a chemotherapeutic agent (like dodetaxel) or such a therapy is contemplated for the patient. Also provided herein are means and methods for treating a cancer in a cancer patient for whom therapy comprising a modulator of the HER2/neu (ErbB2) signaling pathway (like Trastuzumab) and a chemotherapeutic agent (like dodetaxel) is contemplated, wherein the patient is to receive PD-L1 inhibitor cotherapy.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.