Esophageal, gastric cancer and immunotherapy: small steps in the right direction?

ABSTRACT: The treatment of advanced, solid-tumor oncology has been reshaped over the last eight years with the development and FDA approval of several immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) comprised of monoclonal antibodies targeting either PD-1, PD-L1, or CTLA-4 across numerous disease states and indications. Yet, despite their vast expansion of use in both solid-tumor and hematologic malignancies, gastrointestinal cancers have had limited approvals to date. This review article will focus on the use of the currently studied, approved uses and the potential future roles of ICIs in the treatment of cancers of the upper gastrointestinal tract through recent updates on ongoing studies and discussion of phase III studies underway. A single immunotherapy agent, Pembrolizumab, is the only currently approved

SUBMITTER: Zayac A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7061183 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature