Abstract
Advances in the interpretation and understanding of cancer behaviour, particularly of its ability to evade the host immunosurveillance, deregulating the balance between inhibitory and stimulatory factors, led to the development of an innovative category of immunotherapeutic agents, currently under investigation. Although the disappointing data deriving from the employment of vaccines in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), more promising results have been obtained in the early phase trials with immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors. This review delineates the main features of the available immunotherapeutic agents, focusing the discussion on immune checkpoint inhibitors, those that have already demonstrated a relevant clinical activity (such as Ipilimumab and Nivolumab) and those molecules still in early development phase. Moreover, we underline the possible emerging issues deriving from the progressive diffusion of Immuno-Oncology into the standard clinical practice. The careful and accurate identification and management of immune-related toxicities, the validation of more reliable immune response criteria and the increasing research of potential predictive biomarkers are key points of discussion. The perspective is that immunotherapy might represent an effective ‘magic bullet’, able to change the treatment paradigm of NSCLC, particularly of those subgroups featured by a heavily mutant cancer (squamous histology and smokers), where the immunologic agents contribute in cancer development and progression seems to be strong and, concurrently, the efficacy of standard therapies particularly limited.
Keywords: Checkpoint inhibitors, CTLA-4, immunotherapy, Ipilimumab, Nivolumab, Non-small cell lung cancer, PD-1.
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
Title:Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Non-small-cell Lung Cancer: Does that Represent a ‘New Frontier’?
Volume: 15 Issue: 3
Author(s): Sara Pilotto, Stefania Kinspergher, Umberto Peretti, Anna Calio, Luisa Carbognin, Roberto Ferrara, Matteo Brunelli, Marco Chilosi, Giampaolo Tortora and Emilio Bria
Affiliation:
Keywords: Checkpoint inhibitors, CTLA-4, immunotherapy, Ipilimumab, Nivolumab, Non-small cell lung cancer, PD-1.
Abstract: Advances in the interpretation and understanding of cancer behaviour, particularly of its ability to evade the host immunosurveillance, deregulating the balance between inhibitory and stimulatory factors, led to the development of an innovative category of immunotherapeutic agents, currently under investigation. Although the disappointing data deriving from the employment of vaccines in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), more promising results have been obtained in the early phase trials with immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors. This review delineates the main features of the available immunotherapeutic agents, focusing the discussion on immune checkpoint inhibitors, those that have already demonstrated a relevant clinical activity (such as Ipilimumab and Nivolumab) and those molecules still in early development phase. Moreover, we underline the possible emerging issues deriving from the progressive diffusion of Immuno-Oncology into the standard clinical practice. The careful and accurate identification and management of immune-related toxicities, the validation of more reliable immune response criteria and the increasing research of potential predictive biomarkers are key points of discussion. The perspective is that immunotherapy might represent an effective ‘magic bullet’, able to change the treatment paradigm of NSCLC, particularly of those subgroups featured by a heavily mutant cancer (squamous histology and smokers), where the immunologic agents contribute in cancer development and progression seems to be strong and, concurrently, the efficacy of standard therapies particularly limited.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Pilotto Sara, Kinspergher Stefania, Peretti Umberto, Calio Anna, Carbognin Luisa, Ferrara Roberto, Brunelli Matteo, Chilosi Marco, Tortora Giampaolo and Bria Emilio, Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Non-small-cell Lung Cancer: Does that Represent a ‘New Frontier’?, Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2015; 15 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871520614666141110170259
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871520614666141110170259 |
Print ISSN 1871-5206 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5992 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Induction of cell death in cancer cells by modulating telomerase activity using small molecule drugs
Telomeres are distinctive but short stretches present at the corners of chromosomes and aid in stabilizing chromosomal makeup. Resynthesis of telomeres supported by the activity of reverse transcriptase ribonucleoprotein complex telomerase. There is no any telomerase activity in human somatic cells, but the stem cells and germ cells undergone telomerase ...read more
Role of natural compounds as anti anti-cancer agents
Cancer is considered the leading cause of worldwide mortality, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2022. Cancer outcome can be improved through an appropriate screening and early detection and through an efficient clinical treatment. Chemotherapy remains an important approach in treatment o f several types of cancers, even though ...read more
Signaling and enzymatic modulators in cancer treatment
Cancer accounts for nearly 10 million deaths in 2022 and is considered the leading cause of worldwide mortality. Cancer outcome can be improved through an appropriate screening and early detection and through an efficient clinical treatment. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery are the most important approach for the treatment of several ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Stem Cell Defects in Philadelphia Chromosome Negative Chronic Myeloproliferative Disorders: A Phenotypic and Molecular Puzzle?
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Editorial: The Importance of Case Reports and Case Series in Helping Diagnose Rare Diseases
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Eco-friendly Synthesis of Pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine Analogs and Their Anticancer and Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition Activities
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Oxidative Stress Based-Biomarkers in Oral Carcinogenesis: How Far Have We Gone?
Current Molecular Medicine Targeting Protein Degradation in the Nervous System
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Central Nervous System Agents Biological Activities of Eco-Friendly Synthesized Hantzsch Adducts
Medicinal Chemistry The Rationale for Repurposing Sildenafil for Lung Cancer Treatment
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Targeting Nodal and Cripto-1: Perspectives Inside Dual Potential Theranostic Cancer Biomarkers
Current Medicinal Chemistry Is Fast Food Addictive?
Current Drug Abuse Reviews MicroRNA-21 as a Novel Therapeutic Target
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews The Co-regulatory Role of 5-Lipoxygenase and Cyclooxygenase-2 in the Carcinogenesis and their Promotion by Cigarette Smoking in Colons
Current Medicinal Chemistry Locked Nucleic Acid Holds Promise in the Treatment of Cancer
Current Pharmaceutical Design Immune Modulation of Asian Folk Herbal Medicines and Related Chemical Components for Cancer Management
Current Medicinal Chemistry Tumor Initiating Cells
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Metabolic Activation of Herbal and Dietary Constituents and Its Clinical and Toxicological Implications: An Update
Current Drug Metabolism Docking and Molecular Dynamics Study on the Inhibitory Activity of Novel Inhibitors on Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)
Medicinal Chemistry Analytical Methods for Metallothionein Detection
Current Analytical Chemistry Targeting Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Solid Tumors: Critical Evaluation of the Biological Importance of Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibodies
Current Medicinal Chemistry Tirapazamine: From Bench to Clinical Trials
Current Clinical Pharmacology Synthesis and Cytotoxic Evaluation of Novel Symmetrical Taspine Derivatives as Anticancer Agents
Medicinal Chemistry