Immune checkpoint inhibitors: a promising anticancer therapy

Drug Discov Today. 2020 Jan;25(1):223-229. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2019.11.003. Epub 2019 Nov 15.

Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are revolutionizing the treatment of many cancers and have demonstrated their potential as 'cancer terminators'. However, ICI treatment also has constraints, such as its immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and therapeutic resistance. These drawbacks are gradually being overcome through better knowledge of the immune system, history of disease, duration of treatment, combinational drug regimes, adequate biomarkers, and effective patient response monitoring. In this review, we discuss the present ICI therapy landscape and its therapeutic outcomes for various diseases. We also highlight biomarkers related to the ICI response.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / therapeutic use*
  • Biomarkers
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • Biomarkers
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors