Age and CMV are not associated with clinical or immunological response to immune checkpoint blockade

A study examined the impact of age and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection on the response of advanced melanoma patients to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) treatment. The research involved 79 advanced melanoma patients whose blood samples were analyzed before and during treatment using flow cytometry. Older patients (≥65 years) had fewer CD8+ naive T cells, CD4+ memory T cells, and B cells, but similar expression of cytokines and inhibitory markers. CMV caused expansion of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells with enhanced effector function. One cycle of PD-1 and CTLA-4 blockade induced immune cell expansion, but these effects were independent of age or CMV serostatus. The results demonstrated that neither age nor CMV infection had an impact on clinical outcomes or immunological response to ICB in advanced melanoma patients.