Immune-checkpoint blockade in cancer immunotherapy

Abstract

Abstract Monoclonal antibodies directed against checkpoint molecules such as CTLA-4, B7-H1, and PD-1 have recently demonstrated remarkable therapeutic activity in patients with melanoma, renal cell cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer. Particularly exciting are the durability of many of the tumor responses achieved with checkpoint blockade in patients with metastatic cancers and the tumor activity in a variety of different tumor types, including non-small cell lung cancer, that was observed with B7-H1 and PD-1 inhibition in large phase I studies. The field of immune checkpoint blockade as a therapeutic approach is likely still in its infancy; exploration of other checkpoints such as LAG-3, Tim-3, as well as combinatorial approaches with other immunotherapies, targeted therapy, chemo- and radiotherapy are ongoing in preclinical and clinical studies.