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
-
Current HPLC Methods for Assay of Nano Drug Delivery Systems
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Production of Retroviral Vectors: Review
Current Gene Therapy Gene Therapy in Fanconi Anemia: A Matter of Time, Safety and Gene Transfer Tool Efficiency
Current Gene Therapy Innovative Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoid Receptors as Targets in Alzheimer’s Disease and Less Well-Known Diseases
Current Medicinal Chemistry Telomerase Modulation in Therapeutic Approach
Current Pharmaceutical Design KRAS Mutation Testing of Colorectal Cancer for Anti-EGFR Therapy: Dogmas Versus Evidence
Current Cancer Drug Targets Dual Function of Nitric Oxide in Carcinogenesis, Reappraisal
Current Drug Metabolism Therapeutic Polycomb Targeting in Human Cancer
Recent Patents on Regenerative Medicine Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF) Peptide Family and their Receptors: Divergent Actions Influencing Human Physiology
Current Genomics Novel and Emerging Targeted Therapies of Colorectal Cancer
Current Clinical Pharmacology Editorial (Thematic Issue: Improving Cancer Clinical Research and Trials with Hispanic Populations: Training and Outreach Efforts Between Moffitt Cancer Center and the Ponce School of Medicine)
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials The Chlorophyll Catabolite Pheophorbide a as a Photosensitizer for the Photodynamic Therapy
Current Medicinal Chemistry Direct Evidence on the Immune-Mediated Spontaneous Regression of Human Cancer: An Incentive for Pharmaceutical Companies to Develop a Novel Anti-Cancer Vaccine
Current Pharmaceutical Design Reduction of Breast Cancer Relapses with Perioperative Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs: New Findings and a Review
Current Medicinal Chemistry microRNAs in Cancer: Lessons from Melanoma
Current Pharmaceutical Design In Vitro and In Vivo Investigations into the Carbene Gold Chloride and Thioglucoside Anticancer Drug Candidates NHC-AuCl and NHC-AuSR
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Recombinant Antibodies in Cancer Therapy
Current Protein & Peptide Science Protective and Therapeutic Effects of Ghrelin in the Gut
Current Medicinal Chemistry Applications of Nuclear Technique to Biological Sciences Labelled Compounds, Radioactive Tracers, and X-Ray Tomography
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry The Intermediate Enzymes of Isoprenoid Metabolism as Anticancer Targets
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry