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Updated: Feb 8, 2026
Identifying PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors with Surface Plasmon Resonance Technology
Published on: May 2, 2025
Advanced non-small cell lung cancer: the role of PD-L1 inhibitors
David F Heigener1,2, Martin Reck1,3
1Lungenclinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North, German Center for Lung Research, Grosshansdorf, Germany.
Abstract:
PD-L1 and PD-1 inhibitors were both developed to combat a huge array of cancers. Both classes of agents block the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway. Unlike PD-1 inhibitors, PD-L1 inhibitors do also block the B-7.1-receptor and leave the PD-L2/PD-1 axis unaffected. Whether these differences enhance efficacy and tolerability is not clear yet. There are three PD-L1 inhibitors approved or in late clinical development: Atezolizumab, approved in 2nd-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, durvalumab, showing promising results as a consolidation therapy in stage III disease and avelumab, the only drug exploiting antigen-dependent cytotoxicity. Future directions are the combination of these compounds with chemotherapy or other immuno-oncologic drugs.
Insights
Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors target cancer by blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway. PD-L1 inhibitors also block the B-7.1 receptor, with unclear impacts on efficacy and tolerability.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunotherapy
- Drug Development
Background:
- Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors are crucial in cancer immunotherapy.
- Both drug classes function by inhibiting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, a key regulator of immune responses against cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the mechanisms of PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors.
- To discuss the clinical development and potential future applications of PD-L1 inhibitors.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitor mechanisms.
- Review of clinical data for approved and late-stage PD-L1 inhibitors.
Main Results:
- PD-1 inhibitors exclusively block the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway.
- PD-L1 inhibitors additionally block the B-7.1 receptor, leaving the PD-L2/PD-1 axis intact.
- Three PD-L1 inhibitors (Atezolizumab, Durvalumab, Avelumab) are in clinical use or development for various cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer.
Conclusions:
- The distinct mechanisms of PD-L1 inhibitors warrant further investigation into their efficacy and tolerability compared to PD-1 inhibitors.
- Combination therapies involving PD-L1 inhibitors with chemotherapy or other immunotherapies represent a promising future direction in oncology.
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