Understanding the Rationale for Immunotherapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Although immunotherapy has been used for decades in immunogenic tumor types, such as melanoma and renal cell carcinoma, historically immunotherapeutic approaches in other tumor types, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), have met with failure. Nonetheless, evidence exists supporting the role of the immune system in tumor suppression, even in tumor types believed to be non-immunogenic. In NSCLC, immune checkpoint molecules have recently proven to be successful targets, with nivolumab, the first immune checkpoint inhibitor indicated for NSCLC, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in March 2015. Several other immune checkpoint inhibitors are currently in phase III development in NSCLC.