title: The role of the PD-L1:PD-1 pathway in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
abstract: Antigen specific stimulation of immune cells, triggers expression of a diverse array of co-signaling molecules that help define the fate of the resultant immune response. Antibodies and fusion proteins, capable of blocking and/or activating these co-signaling pathways, are emerging as potent therapeutic options for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease. Blockade of one such pair of co signaling interactions, termed PD-L1:PD-1, has shown tremendous promise in phase I treatment trials for advanced solid tumors like non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma, with long term disease remission in select patients. Based on intriguing preclinical data from our group and others, several trials are actively evaluating the utility of PD-L1:PD-1 blockade for the treatment of recurrent/metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). In this review we will explore what is known about the interactions between PD-1 and PD-L1, with a focus on SCCHN, and specifically discuss how this pathway can be manipulated with therapeutic intent.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States. Electronic address: dzandberg@umm.edu.
authors.forename: Dan P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Zandberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
authors.forename: Scott E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Strome
mesh_terms: D060890:B7-H1 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D060890:B7-H1 Antigen; C423236:CD274 protein, human; C105992:PDCD1 protein, human; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
keywords: B7-H1; Head and neck; Immunotherapy; PD-1; PD-L1; Squamous