JAK inhibition enhances checkpoint blockade immunotherapy in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma
Abstract
Unleashing antitumor T cell activity by checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy is effective in cancer patients, but clinical responses are limited. Cytokine signaling through the Janus kinase (JAK)–signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway correlates with checkpoint immunotherapy resistance. We report a phase I clinical trial of the JAK inhibitor ruxolitinib with anti–PD-1 antibody nivolumab in Hodgkin lymphoma patients relapsed or refractory following checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy. The combination yielded a best overall response rate of 53% (10/19). Ruxolitinib significantly reduced neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios and percentages of myeloid suppressor cells but increased numbers of cytokine-producing T cells. Ruxolitinib rescued the function of exhausted T cells and enhanced the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade in preclinical solid tumor and lymphoma models. This synergy was characterized by a switch from suppressive to immunostimulatory myeloid cells, which enhanced T cell division. Editor’s summary Cancer immunotherapy is a type of treatment that mobilizes a patient’s immune system to kill tumor cells. It has been successful in treating certain tumors, but patients frequently have chronic inflammation and immunosuppression, which can limit treatment response. Two independent clinical trials looked at whether dialing down inflammation using drugs called JAK inhibitors could improve the efficacy of anti–PD-1 immunotherapy in cancer patients (see…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a clinical trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 19 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Improving the translation of search strategies using the Polyglot Search Translator: a randomized controlled trial
- Nutritional, Physical, Cognitive, and Combination Interventions and Frailty Reversal Among Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- Clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with COVID-19 severity in patients with haematological malignancies in Italy: a retrospective, multicentre, cohort study
- A randomized, controlled trial of oral propranolol in infantile hemangioma
- Clinical phenotypes of delirium during critical illness and severity of subsequent long-term cognitive impairment: a prospective cohort study
- Increased physical activity improves sleep and mood outcomes in inactive people with insomnia: a randomized controlled trial
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.