Recent developments in PD-1/PD-L1 blockade research for gastroesophageal malignancies

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunotherapy
• Gastrointestinal Cancers

Background:

• Gastroesophageal cancers (GECs), including stomach and esophageal malignancies, have challenging treatment landscapes.
• Current chemoradiotherapy offers limited improvement in clinical outcomes for GEC patients.
• Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are emerging as a potential therapeutic strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review completed and ongoing clinical trials of programmed death 1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway blockers in GEC.
• To summarize current biomarkers for predicting the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade.
• To provide insights for future research and clinical trials in GEC treatment.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of clinical trials involving PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in GEC.
• Analysis of data on PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies combined with chemotherapy.
• Evaluation of monotherapy use in second-line or later treatments and maintenance therapy.

Main Results:

• PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies combined with chemotherapy demonstrate effectiveness as a first-line treatment for GEC.
• These inhibitors show efficacy as monotherapy in second-line or later treatment settings.
• Maintenance therapy with PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies is also highlighted.

Conclusions:

• PD-1/PD-L1 pathway blockers represent a significant advancement in GEC treatment strategies.
• Combination therapy and monotherapy approaches show promising results.
• Further clinical trials and biomarker research are crucial to enhance GEC patient outcomes.