title: An update on the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, safety and clinical efficacy of nivolumab in the treatment of solid cancers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nivolumab is a programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor that has been approved for treatment of advanced melanoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma and classical Hodgkin's lymphoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review summarizes the latest evidence on nivolumab's pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, safety and clinical efficacy in different solid tumors, based on published studies and abstracts from international conferences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multiple high-level evidence has confirmed the efficacy and safety of nivolumab in solid tumors. Further studies should focus on the identification of potential predictive biomarkers and possibility of combining with other immunotherapeutic or cytotoxic agents. The optimal sequence, treatment duration and possibility of re-challenging patients who had prior nivolumab are yet to be defined.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Clinical Oncology , Prince of Wales Hospital , Shatin , Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Ashley C Y
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: b State Key Laboratory in Oncology in South China, Sir YK Pao Centre for Cancer, Department of Clinical Oncology, Hong Kong Cancer Institute , The Chinese University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Brigette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000077594:Nivolumab; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; D000077594:Nivolumab
keywords: Immunotherapy; PD-1; lung cancer; melanoma; nivolumab; renal cell carcinoma