A Pilot Study Using Nivolumab in Combination with Standard of Care Chemotherapy in Newly Diagnosed Peripheral T-Cell Lymphomas

Introduction: The chemotherapy regimen dose adjusted (DA)-EPOCH (etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide) is a first line option for peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs), but for most subtypes relapses are common and long-term outcomes are poor. Checkpoint blockade is an immunotherapeutic approach that has shown efficacy as a single agent in relapsed PTCLs. The combination of checkpoint blockade and cytotoxic chemotherapy can have additive or synergistic activity by increasing the expression of neoantigens and overcoming mechanisms of resistance to immunotherapy such as weak tumor immunogenicity and an immune suppressive tumor microenvironment.