Could controlling occult cytomegalovirus reactivation with prophylactic valganciclovir prevent immune checkpoint blockade –Related complications?

A recent article in Nature Communications makes provocative claims about the immunopathogenesis of hepatitis in a subset of patients receiving combined immune checkpoint blockade [1]. The central tenet of this report is cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific memory T cell responses are primarily responsible for liver inflammation in certain patients with advanced melanoma receiving αPD-1 and αCTLA-4 therapy. This conclusion stems from the discovery that elevated CD4+ effector memory T cell (TEM) frequency in the blood is strongly associated with CMV serostatus and hepatitis risk.
Source: European Journal of Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research