nivolumab + tadalafil

Nivolumab + tadalafil is a combination therapy of **nivolumab**, a monoclonal antibody and immune checkpoint inhibitor that targets **programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)**, and **tadalafil**, a small molecule and phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor. This combination is being investigated primarily for its immunomodulatory effects in cancer therapy. In clinical studies, notably in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), the addition of tadalafil to nivolumab was shown to be safe as a neoadjuvant treatment and led to enhanced immune response signatures, particularly in B and natural killer (NK) cells. The rationale is that PDE-5 inhibition by tadalafil may further alter the tumor microenvironment, potentially reducing myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and enhancing T cell and NK cell antitumor responses, thereby augmenting the efficacy of PD-1 blockade by nivolumab. This combination is also being studied in hepatocellular carcinoma and other advanced solid tumors[1][2][3][4][5].

Brand names

nivolumab + tadalafil

Other names

nivolumab and tadalafil