Combination immunotherapy can rescue CD8+ T cell dysfunction and maintain memory phenotype in cancer

In this study we unveiled specific molecular and cellular mechanisms driving the potent synergism of a coinhibitory antagonist (anti-PD-1 Ab) and a costimulatory agonist (anti-GITR Ab), a modality currently in early clinical testing, and elucidated the parameters required for durable anti-tumor responses. Single cell sequencing on CD8 T cells sorted from MC38 mouse colon tumors and spleens treated with Isotype control, aGITR mono, aPD1 mono and aGITR+aPD1 combo on day 8 and 11. MC38 cells were injected subcutaneously into mice.