Immunologic correlates of the abscopal effect in a patient with melanoma

N Engl J Med. 2012 Mar 8;366(10):925-31. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1112824.

Abstract

The abscopal effect is a phenomenon in which local radiotherapy is associated with the regression of metastatic cancer at a distance from the irradiated site. The abscopal effect may be mediated by activation of the immune system. Ipilimumab is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits an immunologic checkpoint on T cells, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4). We report a case of the abscopal effect in a patient with melanoma treated with ipilimumab and radiotherapy. Temporal associations were noted: tumor shrinkage with antibody responses to the cancer-testis antigen NY-ESO-1, changes in peripheral-blood immune cells, and increases in antibody responses to other antigens after radiotherapy. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health and others.).

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies / blood
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Ipilimumab
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / immunology
  • Lung Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Melanoma / drug therapy
  • Melanoma / immunology
  • Melanoma / radiotherapy*
  • Melanoma / secondary
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / immunology
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Ipilimumab