Memory T Cell Responses Following Anti-CTLA-4 Antibody Treatment

Lawrence Fong, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine (Hematology/Oncology), University of California, San Francisco, discusses research to examine the immunobiology and biomarkers associated with improved clinical outcomes seen during treatment with an anti-CTLA-4 antibody.

Clinical Pearls:

• Because these treatments change the T cells that are circulating in patients, it may take time for patients to develop T cells that can see the cancer.
• Researchers found that patients who have high frequencies of T cells tend have the longest survival when receiving treatment with an anti-CTLA-4 antibody.
• By discovering the benefit of having this pre-existing response, physicians can make better choices when treating patients.