Fig. 1

CT scans indicating metastatic disease and corresponding tumor-free histologic evaluation after therapy with checkpoint inhibitors. In Patient 1, a 72-year-old man with metastatic melanoma a partial response was seen initially after checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Then, lymph node metastases again progressed (progress of 28% as assessed by Recist 1.1; Panel a). On autopsy after death due to cardiac failure these nodes showed no evidence for viable tumor tissue (Panel b). In patient 2 multiple tumor nodes were seen to increase in size in the mesenterial fat and in vicinity of the bowel (Panel c, arrows). Histologic analysis due to a pathologic fracture and a perforation showed no viable tumor tissue as shown in the representative lesion of the ileum (Panel d)