title: Immunologic checkpoints blockade in renal cell, prostate, and urothelial malignancies.
abstract: Genitourinary (GU) tumors, and in particular renal cell and prostate cancer, represent one of the most dynamic areas in oncology from the scientific point of view. One of the most recent treatment approaches for GU tumors has focused on a series of molecules known as immune checkpoints and the possibility of manipulating immune responses against tumor cells by blocking these molecules with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), and the immune checkpoint inhibitor mAbs ipilimumab and tremelimumab, represent the prototypes of this new growing class of agents called immunomodulating antibodies, while programmed death/ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) also has garnered a significant interest as a new immune checkpoints to target in urothelial cancer, with the anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor mAbs nivolumab, MPDL-3280, and BMS-936559 as the first agents tested. Here we report the encouraging initial data observed in GU cancers with this new class of agents, which have reinforced the interest of investigating the therapeutic potential of the immune checkpoint modulators in large controlled trials.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Oncology, Ospedale San Donato, Istituto Toscano Tumori (ITT), Arezzo, Italy. Electronic address: sergio.bracarda@usl8.toscana.it.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bracarda
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Oncology, Ospedale San Donato, Istituto Toscano Tumori (ITT), Arezzo, Italy.
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Altavilla
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Oncology, Ospedale San Donato, Istituto Toscano Tumori (ITT), Arezzo, Italy.
authors.forename: Alketa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamzaj
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Oncology, Ospedale San Donato, Istituto Toscano Tumori (ITT), Arezzo, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sisani
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Oncology, Ospedale San Donato, Istituto Toscano Tumori (ITT), Arezzo, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marrocolo
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Oncology, Ospedale San Donato, Istituto Toscano Tumori (ITT), Arezzo, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Del Buono
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Senese, University of Siena, Istituto Toscano Tumori (ITT), Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Danielli
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors