title: Evolving Concepts: Immunity in Oncology from Targets to Treatments.
abstract: Cancer is associated with global immune suppression of the host. Malignancy-induced immune suppressive effect can be circumvented by blocking the immune checkpoint and tip the immune balance in favor of immune stimulation and unleash cytotoxic effects on cancer cells. Human antibodies directed against immune checkpoint proteins: cytotoxic T lymphocytes antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and programmed death-1 (PD-1), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), have shown therapeutic efficacy in advanced melanoma and non-small-cell lung cancer and other malignancies. Immune check point blockade antibodies lead to diminished tolerance to self and enhanced immune ability to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. As a class these agents have immune-related adverse events due to decreased ability of effector immune cells to discriminate between self and non-self. Seventy percent of patients participating in clinical trials have experienced anticancer activities and varying degrees of immune mediated dose-limiting side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein School of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
authors.forename: Hina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein School of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
authors.forename: Rasim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gucalp
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology Oncology, Hofstra North Shore LIJ School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA.
authors.forename: Iuliana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shapira