Antagonists of PD-1 and PD-L1 in Cancer Treatment.

ABSTRACT: The PD-1 pathway, comprising the immune cell co-receptor Programmed Death 1 (PD-1) and its ligands, PD-L1 (B7-H1) and PD-L2 (B7-DC), mediates local immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. Drugs designed to block PD-1 or PD-L1 "release the brakes" on anti-tumor immunity and have demonstrated clinical activity in several types of advanced cancers, validating this pathway as a target for cancer therapy. Two such drugs have recently been approved to treat melanoma and lung cancers, and regulatory approvals in first- and second-line settings for additional cancer types are anticipated. The manageable safety profile of PD-1/PD-L1 blocking drugs identifies them as suitable for outpatient administration and the development of combinatorial therapies. Ongoing studies aim to identify biomar

SUBMITTER: Lipson EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4555873 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature