Study description

• CyTOF
• study baseline immunotypes of ICI groups (irAE and no irAE) as well as those of autoimmune disease and healthy control groups
• study changes in immunotypes of those undergoing ICI (irAE and no irAE groups)

Motivation

• ICIs have revolutionized cancer treatment but often result in irAEs
• relationship between irAE development and response to ICI is unclear (some evidence for a positive association)
• baseline abundances of various immune cell subsets have been associated with irAE development, and various on treatment changes have been associated with irAE development as well, but (perhaps due to irAE organ heterogeneity, ICI drug heterogeneity...) there isn't a clear consensus on predictors of irAE development

Hypotheses

• can baseline immunotypes differentiate those who do and do not develop irAEs?
• are there distinct changes in immunotypes on ICI in those who develop irAEs? are their immunotypes becoming more like those of autoimmune disease patients?

Experimental design

• 43 ICI patients, 19 with irAEs and 24 without, as well as autoimmune disease and healthy control cohorts
• longitudinal samples from these 43 patients: baseline (pre-ICI), after 1st infusion, after 2nd infusion, and additional sample(s) if irAE(s) devleoped

Discussion

• covariates of importance include batch and primary cancer type