CML patients with deep molecular responses to TKI have restored immune effectors and decreased PD-1 and immune suppressors

"There are preliminary data that CML patients who maintain TFR successfully after TKI cessation have higher NK cell numbers and function compared with those who relapse off-treatment, further supporting the importance of recrudescence of effector-mediated immune surveillance for achieving sustained TFR in CML"....."When successful TKI therapy reduces the leukemic cell load, suppressor cell activity, and PD-1 expression, there is consequent reactivation of the immune effector response"

Amy Hughes, Jade Clarson, Carine Tang, Ljiljana Vidovic, Deborah L. White, Timothy P. Hughes and Agnes S. M. Yong
Blood 2017 129:1166-1176

http://www.bloodjournal.org/content/129/9/1166?sso-checked=true