Progress and Challenges in Precise Treatment of Tumors With PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade

Youhai Jiang1,2, Xiaofang Zhao2,3, Jing Fu1,2,4

  • 1Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Cancer Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.

Insights

Immune checkpoint inhibitors like PD-1/PD-L1 blockade show promise in cancer treatment but have limited response rates. This review explores methods to predict patient response and enhance immunotherapy efficacy for better cancer precision treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Immune checkpoint inhibitors, including programmed death 1 and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) blockade, leverage T cell activity against cancer.
  • Despite efficacy, objective response rates for PD-1/PD-L1 blockade remain low (20-30%), particularly in solid tumors, with variable side effects.
  • Numerous unknown factors impact the therapeutic effectiveness of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade, posing challenges for precise cancer treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize recent advancements in predicting patient response to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade.
  • To review combined therapeutic strategies aimed at improving the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade.
  • To discuss methods and evaluations for enhancing precision immunotherapy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent progress in response prediction for PD-1/PD-L1 blockade.
  • Analysis of combined application strategies with PD-1/PD-L1 blockade.
  • Discussion of evaluation methods for improving immunotherapy implementation.

Main Results:

  • Limited objective response rates (20-30%) and side effects are associated with current PD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapies.
  • Tumor heterogeneity and other factors contribute to the low efficacy and unknown variables affecting treatment outcomes.
  • Accurate screening of responding patients and combination therapies are critical for improving treatment success.

Conclusions:

  • Predicting response and optimizing combination strategies are essential for maximizing the benefits of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade.
  • Further research into predictive biomarkers and novel therapeutic combinations is needed to enhance precision immunotherapy.
  • Improving patient selection and treatment regimens can overcome current limitations and improve outcomes in cancer immunotherapy.

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