title: Immune checkpoint blockade as a potential therapeutic target in non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: The recent emergence of immune checkpoint blockade therapy and the progression of immunobiology in cancer have spurred an increasing interest in the immunotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), designed to directly target immune inhibitory molecules, have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC.
  
  
  
  In the present article, the authors summarize the mechanism, efficacy and safety of major ICIs for the treatment of advanced or metastatic NSCLC. Combinations of different ICIs or conventional therapy and/or targeted agents for NSCLC treatment in clinical trials are also updated. In addition, immune-related adverse events and the roles of inhibitory immune checkpoint molecules as potential biomarkers in the immune checkpoint blockade therapy for NSCLC are emphatically elucidated.
  
  
  
  Immunotherapies targeting the immune checkpoint pathways have shown potential to generate durable responses and improve survival for NSCLC patients. Although the toxicity profile of this immunotherapy is manageable, immune-related adverse events and drug resistance may cause therapeutic failure. Therefore, a better understanding of the mechanisms underpinning its function and the potential side effects of ICIs, as well as the identification of predictive biomarkers for patient selection are essential.
authors.affiliation: a Center of Laboratory Medicine , General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University , Yinchuan , China.
authors.forename: Jiali
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine , General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University , Yinchuan , China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: a Center of Laboratory Medicine , General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University , Yinchuan , China.|c Human Stem Cell Institute , General Hospital, Ningxia Medical University , Yinchuan , China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: a Center of Laboratory Medicine , General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University , Yinchuan , China.|c Human Stem Cell Institute , General Hospital, Ningxia Medical University , Yinchuan , China.
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: d Department of Clinical Oncology , Queen Elizabeth Hospital , Kowloon , Hong Kong.
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods; D018579:Patient Selection
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4; immune checkpoint inhibitor; non-small cell lung cancer; programmed cell death protein 1; programmed cell death protein ligand-1