Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 21, 2026

Identifying PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors with Surface Plasmon Resonance Technology
07:04

Identifying PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors with Surface Plasmon Resonance Technology

Published on: May 2, 2025

1.3K

Nivolumab, anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody immunotherapy: Role in advanced cancers

Arun Rajan1, Chul Kim1, Christopher R Heery2

  • 1a Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda , MD , USA.

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
|May 3, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Immune checkpoint inhibitors like nivolumab offer durable responses in advanced cancers. Ongoing trials explore combining nivolumab with other therapies for broader efficacy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunotherapy

Background:

  • Immune checkpoint inhibitors represent a significant advancement in treating advanced cancers.
  • Nivolumab, an antibody targeting the programmed death receptor-1 pathway, is effective against various solid tumors and hematological malignancies.
  • Durable responses observed with nivolumab surpass those of traditional systemic therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the clinical trials supporting nivolumab's use in advanced cancers.
  • To highlight nivolumab's mechanism of action and approved indications.
  • To discuss ongoing research into biomarkers and combination therapies involving nivolumab.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical trial data for nivolumab in advanced cancers.
  • Analysis of nivolumab's mechanism of action as an immune checkpoint inhibitor.
  • Examination of current research on combination treatments and predictive biomarkers.

Main Results:

  • Nivolumab demonstrates clinical activity and durable responses in advanced cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, and renal cell carcinoma.
  • The drug is generally well-tolerated.
  • Research is actively identifying biomarkers to predict response and evaluating combination strategies.

Conclusions:

  • Nivolumab has emerged as a crucial treatment option for patients with advanced cancers.
  • Further research is essential to optimize nivolumab therapy through biomarker discovery and combination approaches.
  • The durability of response with nivolumab offers a significant advantage in cancer treatment.
Keywords:
immune checkpoint inhibitorsimmunotherapymelanomanivolumabnon-small cell lung cancerrenal cell carcinoma

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Magnetic Fluorescent Bead-Based Dual-Reporter Flow Analysis of PDL1-Vaxx Peptide Vaccine-Induced Antibody Blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 Interaction10:18

Author Spotlight: Magnetic Fluorescent Bead-Based Dual-Reporter Flow Analysis of PDL1-Vaxx Peptide Vaccine-Induced Antibody Blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 Interaction

Published on: July 7, 2023

1.8K
Monitoring PD-1-Blocking Antibodies Bound to T Cells Derived from a Drop of Peripheral Blood06:07

Monitoring PD-1-Blocking Antibodies Bound to T Cells Derived from a Drop of Peripheral Blood

Published on: February 5, 2020

6.2K

Related Concept Videos

Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
2.1K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
9.1K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

1.7K
Cancer Vaccines01:30

Cancer Vaccines

Cancer treatment vaccines are a rapidly evolving field that offers a promising approach to immunotherapy. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
1.3K
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
6.3K
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
9.1K