New strategies in lung cancer: translating immunotherapy into clinical practice

Recent breakthroughs in translating the early development of immunomodulatory antibodies into the clinic, notably with the anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 antibody, ipilimumab, have led to durable benefits and prolonged survival for a subgroup of patients with advanced melanoma. Subsequent studies have shown that related immune checkpoint antibodies, specifically those targeting the programmed death-1 pathway, have activity in non-small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer is the commonest cause of cancer death worldwide and this exciting avenue of clinical investigation carries with it great promise and new challenges. In this article, we discuss recent developments in lung cancer immunotherapy, reviewing recent findings from therapeutic vaccine studies and in particular we focus on the refinement of immunomodulation as a therapeutic strategy in this challenging disease.