Immune checkpoint inhibitors: a physiology-driven approach to the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019

Eur J Cancer. 2020 Aug:135:62-65. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2020.05.026. Epub 2020 Jun 4.

Abstract

While confirmed cases of the deadly coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have exceeded 4.7 million globally, scientists are pushing forward with efforts to develop vaccines and treatments in an attempt to slow the pandemic and lessen the disease's damage. Although no proven effective therapies for treating patients with COVID-19 or for managing their complications currently exist, the rapidly expanding knowledge regarding severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and its interplay with hosts provides a significant number of potential drug targets and the potential to repurpose drugs already tested in other diseases. Herein, we report the biological rationale of immune-activating drugs and a brief summary of literature data on the potential therapeutic value of immune checkpoint inhibitors that have been recently tested beyond cancer treatment for their potential to restore cellular immunocompetence.

Keywords: Anti–IL-6R; Anti–PD-1; COVID-19; Cytokine storm; Pembrolizumab; SARS-CoV-2; Tocilizumab.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / pharmacology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / immunology
  • B7-H1 Antigen / antagonists & inhibitors
  • B7-H1 Antigen / immunology
  • Betacoronavirus / immunology
  • Betacoronavirus / pathogenicity*
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment
  • Coronavirus Infections / blood
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy*
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / drug effects
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Lymphopenia / blood
  • Lymphopenia / drug therapy
  • Lymphopenia / immunology
  • Lymphopenia / virology
  • Neoplasms / blood
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / blood
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / immunology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / immunology
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • CD274 protein, human
  • Immunologic Factors
  • PDCD1 protein, human
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • tocilizumab