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Updated: Dec 29, 2025

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

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Neoadjuvant checkpoint blockade for cancer immunotherapy

Suzanne L Topalian1,2, Janis M Taube2,3, Drew M Pardoll2,4

  • 1Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. stopali1@jhmi.edu.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|February 1, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy using anti-PD-1/PD-L1 drugs before surgery shows promise for overcoming cancer treatment resistance. Research explores mechanisms and trial designs to enhance efficacy in earlier cancer stages.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1):programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway inhibitors have revolutionized cancer treatment.
  • Despite broad efficacy, many advanced tumors develop resistance to current immunotherapies.
  • Investigating earlier treatment interventions is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the development of neoadjuvant (presurgical) immunotherapy targeting the PD-1 pathway.
  • To highlight key considerations for biological mechanisms, clinical trial design, and pathologic response assessment in neoadjuvant settings.
  • To identify strategies for enhancing anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 efficacy through novel combinations.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on neoadjuvant immunotherapy in the context of PD-1 pathway blockade.
  • Analysis of biological mechanisms underlying response and resistance to neoadjuvant immunotherapy.
  • Examination of clinical trial designs and pathologic assessment methods for neoadjuvant immunotherapy.

Main Results:

  • Neoadjuvant immunotherapy represents a promising strategy to overcome treatment resistance in various cancers.
  • Early-stage application of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade may enhance antitumor immunity before tumor progression.
  • Pathologic response assessment is critical for evaluating treatment efficacy and guiding future research.

Conclusions:

  • Neoadjuvant immunotherapy holds significant potential for improving cancer treatment efficacy.
  • Further research into biological mechanisms and optimal trial designs is necessary.
  • Findings may inform the development of combination therapies to boost anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 effectiveness.

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