title: Are there, or shall we discover, biomarkers to guide PD-1 inhibition?
abstract: Paolo A Ascierto and Ramon A de Mello speak to Ellen Clarke, Commissioning Editor Despite the recent success of PD-1/PD-L1-directed immunotherapy in a number of different malignancies, there are currently no effective biomarkers available to predict patient response to treatment. This question is particularly important because these immunotherapy agents are expensive and have significant toxicity profiles. Early data are emerging on biomarkers such as PD-L1 expression; however, it is clear that further studies are needed to identify alternative biomarkers and to improve understanding of the host immune system and tumor microenvironment. In a panel interview Paolo Ascierto and Ramon de Mello discuss this important clinical question.
authors.affiliation: MD Melanoma, Cancer Immunotherapy & Innovative Therapy Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione Pascale Via Mariano Semmola, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ascierto
authors.affiliation: Professor of Medicine & Oncology, Department of Biomedical Sciences & Medicine, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal.|Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.|Head of the Clinical Research Centre, Hospital Haroldo Juaçaba, Ceará Cancer Institute, Rua Papi Junior, 1222, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ramon Andrade
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: de Mello
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D060890:B7-H1 Antigen / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological / Q000378:metabolism*; D005104:Expert Testimony; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D060890:B7-H1 Antigen; D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological; C105992:PDCD1 protein, human; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
keywords: PD-L1; checkpoint inhibitors; predictive biomarkers