biostudies-literatureZhao BPostdoctoral Science Foundation of ChinaWenzhou Municipal Science and Technology BureauNational Natural Science Foundation of China1758835920937612https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7366397biostudies-literatureUnknown12<h4>Background</h4>Inhibitors targeting programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) have unprecedented effects in cancer treatment. However, the objective response rates (ORRs), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade monotherapy have not been systematically evaluated.<h4>Methods</h4>We searched Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane database from inception to July 2019 for prospective clinical trials on single-agent PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies (avelumab, atezolizumab, durvalumab, cemiplimab, pembrolizumab, and nivolumab) with information regarding ORR, PFS, and OS.<h4>Results</h4>Totally, 28,304 patients from 160 perspective trials were included. Overall, 4747 responses occurred in 22,165 patients treated with PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy [ORR, 20.21%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 18.34-22.15%]. Compared with conventional therapy, PD-1/PD-L1 blockade immunotherapy was associated with more tumor responses (odds ratio, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.52-2.57) and better OS [hazard ratio (HR), 0.75; 95% CI, 0.67-0.83]. The ORRs varied significantly across cancer types and PD-L1 expression status. Line of treatment, clinical phase and drug target also impacted the response rates in some tumors. A total of 2313 of 9494 PD-L1 positive patients (ORR, 24.39%; 95% CI, 22.29-26.54%) and 456 of 4215 PD-L1 negative patients (ORR, 10.34%; 95% CI, 8.67-12.14%) achieved responses. For PD-L1 negative patients, the ORR (odds ratio, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.70-1.20) and PFS (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.87-1.51) associated with immunotherapy and conventional treatment were similar. However, PD-1/PD-L1 blockade monotherapy decreased the risk of death in both PD-L1 positive (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.60-0.72) and PD-L1 negative (HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.74-0.99) patients compared with conventional therapy.<h4>Conclusion</h4>The efficacies associated with PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy vary significantly across cancer types and PD-L1 expression. This comprehensive summary of clinical benefit from immunotherapy in cancer patients provides an important guide for clinicians.Therapeutic advances in medical oncologyEfficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade monotherapy in clinical trials.PMC736639731571417Y201800862019T1202822018M641862Zhao BZhao JZhao HfalseEfficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade monotherapy in clinical trials.<h4>Background</h4>Inhibitors targeting programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) have unprecedented effects in cancer treatment. However, the objective response rates (ORRs), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade monotherapy have not been systematically evaluated.<h4>Methods</h4>We searched Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane database from inception to July 2019 for prospective clinical trials on single-agent PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies (avelumab, atezolizumab, durvalumab, cemiplimab, pembrolizumab, and nivolumab) with information regarding ORR, PFS, and OS.<h4>Results</h4>Totally, 28,304 patients from 160 perspective trials were included. Overall, 4747 responses occurred in 22,165 patients treated with PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy [ORR, 20.21%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 18.34-22.15%]. Compared with conventional therapy, PD-1/PD-L1 blockade immunotherapy was associated with more tumor responses (odds ratio, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.52-2.57) and better OS [hazard ratio (HR), 0.75; 95% CI, 0.67-0.83]. The ORRs varied significantly across cancer types and PD-L1 expression status. Line of treatment, clinical phase and drug target also impacted the response rates in some tumors. A total of 2313 of 9494 PD-L1 positive patients (ORR, 24.39%; 95% CI, 22.29-26.54%) and 456 of 4215 PD-L1 negative patients (ORR, 10.34%; 95% CI, 8.67-12.14%) achieved responses. For PD-L1 negative patients, the ORR (odds ratio, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.70-1.20) and PFS (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.87-1.51) associated with immunotherapy and conventional treatment were similar. However, PD-1/PD-L1 blockade monotherapy decreased the risk of death in both PD-L1 positive (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.60-0.72) and PD-L1 negative (HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.74-0.99) patients compared with conventional therapy.<h4>Conclusion</h4>The efficacies associated with PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy vary significantly across cancer types and PD-L1 expression. This comprehensive summary of clinical benefit from immunotherapy in cancer patients provides an important guide for clinicians.2020-01-01T00:00:00Z20202025-04-26T07:14:57.675Z2025-02-19T01:13:46.914ZS-EPMC73663973272839210.1177/1758835920937612