{
  "abstract": "The results of a recent comprehensive investigation—confirmed in multiple cohorts—show that patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, who favorably responded to anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) therapy, were enriched in IgG1-producing plasma cells. The clonally expanded cells in responders also showed upregulation of IGHG1, the gene encoding the IgG1 antibodies. IgG1 expresses four GM (γ marker) allotypes: GM 1/a, GM 2/x, GM 3/f and GM 17/z. There are well-established associations between these allotypes and IgG subclass concentrations. Additionally, these determinants influence autoantibody responses to tumor-associated antigens and contribute to the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of tumors. Based on these and other observations, I hypothesize that GM allotypes expressed on IgG1 could potentially serve as genetic markers of response to anti-PD-1 and other immune checkpoint blockade therapies characterized by the skewed expansion of IgG1 plasma cells.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Pharmacology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA",
        "Department of Pharmacology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Janardan P Pandey"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Immunoglobulin GM (γ marker) allotypes expressed on IgG1 as potential genetic markers of response to immune checkpoint blockade therapy",
  "uid": "23e5e108-e0e8-5b5b-bca3-515903e0b8f2"
}