Progress of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor combination therapy in immune treatment for HER2-positive tumors

Abstract

Background: Patients with HER2-positive cancers often face a poor prognosis, and treatment regimens containing anti-HER2 have become the first-line treatment options for breast and gastric cancers. However, these approaches are faced with significant challenges in terms of drug resistance. Hence, it is crucial to explore precise treatment strategies aimed at improving survival outcomes.

Advancements in treatment: Over the past few years, there has been rapid advancement in the realm of tumor therapy, particularly with the swift progress of immune checkpoint inhibitors, including PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. They exert anti-tumor effects by disrupting immune-suppressive factors within the tumor microenvironment. However, monotherapy with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors has several limitations. Consequently, numerous studies have explored combinatorial immunotherapeutic strategies and demonstrated highly promising avenues of development.

Objective: This article aims to review the clinical trials investigating PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor combination therapy for HER2-positive tumors. Additionally, it provides a summary of ongoing trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of these combined treatments, with the intention of furnishing valuable insights for the clinical management of HER2-positive cancer.

Conclusion: Combinatorial immunotherapeutic strategies involving PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors hold considerable promise in the treatment of HER2-positive tumors. Continued research efforts and clinical trials are warranted to elucidate optimal treatment regimens that maximize therapeutic benefits while minimizing adverse effects.

Keywords: HER2; Cancer; Immunotherapy; PD-1/PD-L1.