Treating cancer can require using immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as anti-PD-1 therapies. Immune checkpoints keep the immune system from killing healthy cells. In cancer patients, they can keep the immune system from attacking the tumors, and they must be turned ‘off’ with inhibitors.

There are preliminary findings that the pathogenic germline variant KDR Q742H is associated with a lack of response to immune checkpoint blockade in melanoma patients. The Chemotherapy+ Foundation supports validating these preliminary findings by acquiring 400 germline DNA samples from melanoma patients with anti-PD-1 therapy.