title: Targeting the programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 axis in lymphoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The development of 'immune checkpoint inhibitors' or drugs targeting the programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) axis has been a stunning success of cancer immunotherapy. This review provides a timely overview of the biology and function of the PD-1 pathway and discusses the rationale for therapeutic inhibition of this pathway in lymphoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recent studies have evaluated the prevalence and prognostic implications of PD-1, PD-L1/2 expression in various lymphoma subtypes. We present an overview of the clinical trials evaluating pidilizumab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab in patients with lymphoid malignancies, and highlight some of the more promising agents in this class, currently in development. Finally, we discuss biomarkers that may predict response to therapy in patients with lymphoma across these clinical trials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A plethora of clinical trials are in progress testing immune checkpoint inhibitors in many subtypes of lymphoma, which will define their role both as a monotherapy and in combination with other biologic agents.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Medicine, Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Chan Yoon
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Cheah
authors.forename: Nathan H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: Sattva S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Neelapu
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D060890:B7-H1 Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D000077594:Nivolumab; D011379:Prognosis; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D060890:B7-H1 Antigen; D015415:Biomarkers; C105992:PDCD1 protein, human; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; D000077594:Nivolumab; C582435:pembrolizumab