title: The safety and efficacy of nivolumab in advanced (metastatic) non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a challenging oncological problem. Following standard initial therapy, disease progression will typically develop. Patients with relapsed or refractory disease are left with limited treatment options. The advent of nivolumab, a monoclonal antibody against Program Death-1 (PD-1), has substantially changed the outlook for such patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nivolumab is the first checkpoint immunotherapeutic agent to gain regulatory approval for NSCLC. By enabling host immune-mediated cytotoxic activity against tumor cells, nivolumab induces a partial or complete tumor response in 15-20% of patients, regardless of number of previous lines of anti-cancer therapy. Nivolumab-related adverse effects are generally milder and less frequent than those observed with conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy. Although immune-related adverse events such as fatal pneumonitis have been reported with nivolumab therapy, most adverse events are reversible with a prompt immunosuppression. Studies investigating nivolumab in combination with other agents are ongoing. Expert commentary: Nivolumab represents a significant breakthrough in the treatment of advanced NSCLC. Its therapeutic role for NSCLC may soon expand to include consolidation or maintenance setting. Furthermore, several clinical trials investigating the combination of nivolumab with other immunologic or non-immunologic treatments are ongoing and these will likely result in additional roles of nivolumab in NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: a Thoracic Oncology Department , H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute , Tampa , FL , USA.
authors.forename: Tawee
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanvetyanon
authors.affiliation: a Thoracic Oncology Department , H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute , Tampa , FL , USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Creelan
authors.affiliation: a Thoracic Oncology Department , H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute , Tampa , FL , USA.
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Antonia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D000077594:Nivolumab; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C105992:PDCD1 protein, human; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; D000077594:Nivolumab
keywords: Nivolumab; chemotherapy; immunotherapy; lung cancer; metastatic; pembrolizumab