title: Targeting PD-1/PD-L1 in lung cancer: current perspectives.
abstract: Increased understanding of tumor immunology has led to the development of effective immunotherapy treatments. One of the most important advances in this field has been due to pharmacological design of antibodies against immune checkpoint inhibitors. Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies are currently in advanced phases of clinical development for several tumors, including lung cancer. Results from Phase I-III trials with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies in non-small-cell lung cancer have demonstrated response rates of around 20% (range, 16%-50%). More importantly, responses are long-lasting (median duration of response, 18 months) and fast (50% of responses are detected at time of first tumor evaluation) with very low grade 3-4 toxicity (less than 5%). Recently, the anti-PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) breakthrough therapy designation for treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer, supported by data from a Phase Ib trial. Another anti-PD-1 antibody, nivolumab, has also been approved for lung cancer based on survival advantage demonstrated in recently released data from a Phase III trial in squamous cell lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Translational Cancer Research Unit, Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quirón Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Cao
authors.affiliation: Translational Cancer Research Unit, Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quirón Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Niki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karachaliou
authors.affiliation: Translational Cancer Research Unit, Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quirón Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Viteri
authors.affiliation: Translational Cancer Research Unit, Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quirón Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morales-Espinosa
authors.affiliation: Pangaea Biotech SL, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Teixidó
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de Investigación Oncología (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sánchez Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Pangaea Biotech SL, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Miquel Ángel
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Molina-Vila
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, Human Pathology Department, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariacarmela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santarpia
authors.affiliation: Translational Cancer Research Unit, Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quirón Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; Pangaea Biotech SL, Barcelona, Spain; Cancer Biology and Precision Medicine Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Germans Trias i Pujol Health Sciences Institute and Hospital, Campus Can Ruti, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain; Fundación Molecular Oncology Research, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosell
keywords: cancer; checkpoint inhibitors; immunoncology; immunotherapy