Natural killer cells are required for the recruitment of CD8+ T cells and the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade in melanoma brain metastases

This study investigated how the depletion of natural killer (NK) cells in mice treated with a combined PD-1/CTLA-4 blockade affects the molecular profiles of intracranial tumors in a two-site B16-OVA melanoma brain metastases model. This model contains concomitant intracranial and extracranial tumors, to mimic the presence of extracranial metastases in melanoma patients with brain metastases, and intracranial responses to the combined PD-1/CTLA-4 blockade that are observed in the clinic can be reproduced in this model.