title: The role of pembrolizumab in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: Lung cancer is the leading cause of death cancer related worldwide. The standard therapies have unmet medical needs both due to the limited activity and relevant toxicity of platinum-based chemotherapy and to the low frequency of specific alterations required to use targeted therapies. Immune checkpoint inhibition due to restoring the immune system's capacity to eradicate tumors is undergoing in extensive investigation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as a new treatment approach. Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and its ligand, programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) have recently led to significantly and durable improvements in the clinical outcome of several kind of tumors including lung cancer. Pembrolizumab, approved by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of advanced NSCLC progressed after other therapies and with expression of PD-L1, has demonstrated durable response and prolonged overall survival (OS) especially in patients with high PD-L1 expression. Further investigation are needed to improve treatment outcomes through combination of immunotherapy or combined with other targeted therapies.
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Medical Oncology, "S. G. Moscati" Hospital, Contrada Amoretta 83100, Avellino, Italy ; 2 Division of Medical Oncology, "ULSS 15 Cittadella", via Casa di ricovero, 40 35013 Cittadella, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santabarbara
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Medical Oncology, "S. G. Moscati" Hospital, Contrada Amoretta 83100, Avellino, Italy ; 2 Division of Medical Oncology, "ULSS 15 Cittadella", via Casa di ricovero, 40 35013 Cittadella, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maione
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Medical Oncology, "S. G. Moscati" Hospital, Contrada Amoretta 83100, Avellino, Italy ; 2 Division of Medical Oncology, "ULSS 15 Cittadella", via Casa di ricovero, 40 35013 Cittadella, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Medical Oncology, "S. G. Moscati" Hospital, Contrada Amoretta 83100, Avellino, Italy ; 2 Division of Medical Oncology, "ULSS 15 Cittadella", via Casa di ricovero, 40 35013 Cittadella, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palazzolo
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Medical Oncology, "S. G. Moscati" Hospital, Contrada Amoretta 83100, Avellino, Italy ; 2 Division of Medical Oncology, "ULSS 15 Cittadella", via Casa di ricovero, 40 35013 Cittadella, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gridelli
keywords: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); pembrolizumab; programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1); programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)