PD-1T tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) are a dysfunctional T-cell population characterized by high PD-1 expression and tumor reactivity. To evaluate their potential as a biomarker for durable clinical benefit to PD-1 blockade, Hummelink and colleagues digitally quantified PD-1T TIL in 120 pretreatment samples from patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. PD-1T TIL showed a high sensitivity in predicting clinical benefit and survival to anti-PD-1 and were superior to PD-L1 or TLS as a biomarker. Importantly, the absence of PD-1T TIL reliably identified a patient group without benefit from PD-1 blockade, thereby providing a promising tool to reduce overtreatment.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) targeting programmed cell death protein 1 and its ligand (PD-1/PD-L1) have revolutionized therapeutic options for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, response rates to ICI vary widely (20–70%) in patients with RCC. Predicting responses using conventional tissue-based techniques evaluating PD-L1 expression is of limited value,...

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