Epigenetic agents plus anti-PD-1 reprogram the tumor microenvironment and restore antitumor efficacy in Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract

DNA methyltransferase inhibitor decitabine plus anti-PD-1 (DP) combination therapy was effective in relapsed/refractory classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). However, a subset of patients experienced primary resistance or relapse/progression after DP therapy. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of a triplet regimen consisting of the histone deacetylase inhibitor chidamide, decitabine and anti-PD-1 camrelizumab (CDP) in 52 patients with relapsed/refractory cHL who had previously received DP therapy (NCT04233294). CDP treatment was well-tolerate and resulted in an objective response rate of 94% (95% CI, 84-99%), with 50% (95% CI, 36-64%) of patients achieving complete response (CR). Notably, all patients who were recalcitrant to previous DP treatment exhibited therapeutic responses following CDP therapy, although their CR rate was lower compared to patients responsive to prior DP. Overall, the median progression-free survival following CDP therapy was 29.4 months. Through single-cell RNA sequencing of pre-treatment and on-treatment cHL tumor biopsies, we observed the heterogeneity of rare malignant Hodgkin Reed/Sternberg (HRS)-like cells. The classical CD30+ HRS-like cells interacted with the abundant immunosuppressive IL21+CD4+ T helper cells, forming a positive feedback loop that supported their survival. In contrast, the CD30- HRS-like cell population showed potential resistance to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. CDP treatment promoted the activation of diverse tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells and suppressed the proliferation of IL21+CD4+ T cells by inhibiting STAT1/3 signaling, thereby alleviating their immunosuppressive effects. These findings provide insights into the cHL microenvironment that contributes to anti-PD-1 resistance and highlight the therapeutic effectiveness of dual epi-immunotherapy in overcoming immunotherapy resistance.