Use of Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 (PD-1) Inhibitor Therapy in HIV-infected Patients with Advanced Cancer:a single-center study from China

Background: PD-1 antibodies have been approved for treating several cancers. However, data regarding the safety and efficacy of these agents in HIV-infected patients with cancers is lacking, because these patients are frequently omitted from clinical trials. Objectives The primary aim of our research is to assess the safety, activity, and long-term outcomes of PD-1 inhibitors in the treatment of HIV-infected patients with advanced cancers. Method We retrospectively analyzed data from HIV-infected patients with advanced cancers who were treated with PD-1 inhibitors at Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Shanghai, China. Results Fifteen HIV-infected patients (all are men; yellow race; median age, 44)with cancers who were treated with chemotherapy and/or combined the other oncology treatments (along with combined antiretroviral therapy (cART)) prior to Sintilimab (12 out of 15) or Nivolumab (1 out of 11) or Camrelizumab (2 out of 11) injection were identified. Eight patients responded to treatment (disease control rate 53.3%), with 1 got partial response (PR) and 7 were stable. Most treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were grade 1 or 2including anemia, leukopenia, hyperglycemia, granulocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Eight patients (53.3%) experienced treatment-related AEs (TRAEs) with grades 3/4including myelosuppression, infection, and neurological disorders. CD4 count and HIV RNA remained stable throughout the treatment. Conclusions When used in HIV-infected patients with advanced malignancies, PD-1 inhibitors tend to have favorable efficacy, manageable side effects, and no deteriorated impacts on HIV-RNA and CD4 + T count.