A Phase I/IB Study of Ipilimumab or Nivolumab in Patients With Relapsed Hematologic Malignancies After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is characterized by poor outcomes and novel therapeutic options are urgently needed. Immune checkpoint blockade using CTLA-4 and PD-1 blocking antibodies are a potential concept for reinstating a dormant graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effect.This study investigated transcriptomic changes in biopsies obtained from patients who received immune checkpoint blockade for relapsed hematologic malignancy post-HSCT and elucidated transcriptional programs associated with successful reinvigoration of GvL. Differential gene expression analysis showed evidence of increased T cell infiltration in biopsies of responders to ipilimumab treatment and demonstrated shared gene programs between GvL and GvHD.