Checkpoint Blockade in Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma.

Checkpoint Blockade in Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2017 Mar 02;: Authors: Lievense LA, Sterman DH, Cornelissen R, Aerts JG Abstract In the past decade, immunotherapy has emerged as a new treatment modality in cancer. The most success has been achieved with the class of checkpoint inhibitors; antibodies which unleash the anti-tumor immune response. Following the success in melanoma, numerous clinical trials are being conducted investigating checkpoint inhibitors in lung cancer and mesothelioma. The programmed death protein 1-protein death ligand 1/2 (PD-1 - PD-L1/2) pathway and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 (CTLA4) are currently the most studied immunotherapeutic targets in these malignancies. In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), anti-programmed death receptor -1 (PD-1) antibodies have become part of the approved treatment arsenal. In small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and mesothelioma the efficacy of checkpoint inhibition has not yet been proven. In this concise clinical review, an overview of the landmark clinical trials investigating checkpoint blockade in lung cancer and mesothelioma is provided. Since response rates are around 20% in the majority of clinical trials, there is much room for improvement. Predictive biomarkers are therefore essential to fully develop the potential of checkpoint inhibitors. To increase efficacy, multiple clinical trials investigating the combination of CTLA4 inh...
Source: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Source Type: research