CMV serostatus is associated with improved survival and delayed toxicity onset following anti-PD-1 checkpoint blockade.

ABSTRACT: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a globally endemic latent herpes virus that profoundly impacts T cell immunity. We investigated the oncological consequences of CMV infection across 341 prospectively recruited patients receiving immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) for melanoma. CMV⁺ patients with metastatic melanoma (MM) have higher lymphocyte counts, reduced neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and divergent CD8⁺ T cell gene expression. Combination anti-CTLA-4/anti-PD-1 ICB, but not single-agent anti-PD-1 ICB, induces cytotoxicity and CMV-associated gene expression in CD8⁺ T cells from CMV^- patients. Correspondingly, overall survival was independent of CMV serostatus in combination anti-CTLA-4/anti-PD-1 ICB recipients (CMV⁺ hazard ratio for death: 1.0

SUBMITTER: Milotay G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12283384 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature