title: Nivolumab in renal cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Immune-based therapies (e.g., IL-2, IFN) have been used for some time in advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with overall modest success. Recent advances have demonstrated that tumor cells evade immune-mediated destruction by inducing inhibitory signals that result in effector T-cell exhaustion. One mechanism involves interaction between the T-cell programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor and its ligand, PD ligand-1, expressed on tumor and inflammatory cells. Nivolumab , an anti-PD-1 antibody, blocks this pathway, thereby reversing T-cell suppression and activating antitumor responses.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this review, the authors summarize selected aspects of PD-1 signaling, the development of immune checkpoint therapeutic agents, and clinical data regarding the safety and efficacy of nivolumab in RCC from Phase I and II clinical trials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Objective responses and safety profiles of single-agent nivolumab are favorable in patients with previously treated and treatment-naive metastatic RCC. Combination therapies involving nivolumab are ongoing and have generated encouraging results. The use of nivolumab will have substantial impact on the management of patients with RCC.
authors.affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, Division of Hematology and Oncology and Hollings Cancer Center , Charleston, SC 29425 , USA.
authors.forename: Rosa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Michel Ortega
authors.forename: Harry A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Drabkin
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D000077594:Nivolumab; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; D000077594:Nivolumab
keywords: anti-programmed death-1; immune checkpoint; immunotherapy; nivolumab; renal cell carcinoma; targeted therapy