Therapeutic Development of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2020:1248:619-649. doi: 10.1007/978-981-15-3266-5_23.

Abstract

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has been proven to be an effective strategy for enhancing the effector activity of anti-tumor T cells, and checkpoint blockers targeting CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1 have displayed strong and durable clinical responses in certain cancer patients. The new hope brought by ICB therapy has led to the boost in therapeutic development of ICBs in recent years. Nonetheless, the therapeutic efficacy of ICBs varies substantially among cancer types and patients, and only a proportion of cancer patients could benefit from ICBs. The emerging targets and molecules for enhancing anticancer immunity may bring additional therapeutic opportunities for cancer patients. The current challenges in the ICB therapy have been discussed, aimed to provide further strategies for maximizing the efficacy of ICB therapy.

Keywords: CTLA-4; Immune checkpoint blocker; PD-1; PD-L1.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects*
  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, Immunologic / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • Receptors, Immunologic