Real-world efficacy and safety of PD-1 inhibitors in patients living with HIV and cancer: a retrospective cohort study - Report - MDSpire

Real-world efficacy and safety of PD-1 inhibitors in patients living with HIV and cancer: a retrospective cohort study

  • By

  • Xiaola Xue

  • Juyi Wu

  • Zhenpeng Tan

  • Chunyu Tian

  • Qiong Li

  • Shujuan Zhou

  • Yuchao Xia

  • Shaojie Yang

  • Xuan Yang

  • June 24, 2026

  • 0 min

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Clinical Report: Efficacy and Safety of PD-1 Inhibitors in HIV-Positive Cancer Patients

Overview

This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of PD-1 inhibitors in HIV-positive patients with cancer.

Background

The increasing life expectancy of people living with HIV (PWH) has led to a higher incidence of noninfectious chronic diseases, particularly cancers. PWH face a significantly elevated risk of various malignancies.

Data Highlights

ParameterHIV-PositiveHIV-Negative
Objective Response Rate (ORR)16.2%15.8%
Disease Control Rate (DCR)51.4%47.4%
Median Progression-Free Survival (PFS)11.5 months16.9 months
Severe Treatment-Related Adverse Events (TRAEs)5.4%N/A

Key Findings

  • The ORR and DCR were similar between HIV-positive and HIV-negative groups.
  • Median PFS was shorter in the HIV-positive group (11.5 months) compared to the HIV-negative group (16.9 months).
  • Among patients with low CD4+ T-cell counts, the DCR was 25.0%.
  • Severe TRAEs occurred exclusively in the HIV-positive cohort.
  • HIV virological control was maintained throughout the study.

Clinical Implications

Continuous monitoring of HIV status and immune function is essential during treatment.

Conclusion

Further research is warranted to validate these results.

Related Resources & Content

  1. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2023 -- When PD-1 Meets Plaque: Making CD8 Senescence Signals Clinically Actionable in Treated HIV
  2. The ASCO Post, 2020 -- Do HIV Positivity and Autoimmune Disease Preclude Treatment With Checkpoint Inhibitors?
  3. The ASCO Post, 2022 -- PD-1 Inhibition in Patients With Classic or Endemic Kaposi Sarcoma KEY POINTS
  4. Frontiers in Oncology, 2026 -- Sequential PD-1 inhibitor after adjuvant radiotherapy for postoperative oral cancer: a propensity score matching retrospective cohort study
  5. Nitya Nathwani, MD; Ariela Noy, MD; Frank Pale, 2024 -- Assessment of the Safety of Pembrolizumab in Patients With HIV and Advanced Cancer—A Phase 1 Study
  6. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, 2023 -- Safety and tolerability of immune checkpoint inhibitors in people with HIV infection and cancer: insights from the national prospective real-world OncoVIHAC ANRS CO24 cohort study
  7. NCCN Guidelines for Cancer in People Living With HIV
  8. Assessment of the Safety of Pembrolizumab in Patients With HIV and Advanced Cancer—A Phase 1 Study - PMC
  9. Safety and tolerability of immune checkpoint inhibitors in people with HIV infection and cancer: insights from the national prospective real-world OncoVIHAC ANRS CO24 cohort study | Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer

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