Theory 72/Field programme/Oncology trials
Response Is Non-Monotonic
The claim
Immunotherapy response is a non-monotonic function of tumour mutation burden, peaking at intermediate burden because very high burden produces immune exhaustion.
01Mechanism
More neoantigens recruit more response until exhaustion dominates.
02Prediction
Response should peak at intermediate burden.
03Refutation
Monotonic response would remove the exhaustion term.