J Cancer 2018; 9(1):205-212. doi:10.7150/jca.21414 This issue Cite
Research Paper
1. VIP Region, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, R.P. China;
2. State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, R.P. China;
3. Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, R.P. China.
* contributed equally to this paper
Background: Blockade of programmed death 1 (PD-1), an inhibitory T lymphocyte receptor, is associated with immune system enhancement and tumor remission in various tumors. We assessed the anti-tumor activity and immune correlates of cancer patients treated with an anti-PD-1 antibody.
Patients and Methods: Twelve patients with advanced metastatic tumors were treated with anti-PD-1 antibody. Responses were assessed after a 12-week treatment regimen. Biochemical and immunological indexes were measured before each cycle.
Results: Among the 12 patients, 3 patients showed partial response while 6 patients had stable disease (objective response rate: 3/12, 25%; disease control rate: 9/12, 75%). During immunotherapy, the proportion of circulating CD3+ T lymphocytes remained stable, with decreasing trends of CD3+CD4+ T helper cell and increase in CD3+CD8+ T memory cells, in patients with stable disease. Additionally, an increase in serum lactate dehydrogenase levels seemed to correlate with tumor progression.
Conclusions: An anti-PD-1 antibody produced objective responses in approximately 25% patients with various solid tumors, demonstrating that it could improve the immune system in vivo.
Keywords: programmed death 1 antibody, refractory solid tumors, clinical activity, lymphocyte.