Progress in immunotherapy for neuroendocrine neoplasm of the digestive system

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunotherapy
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are rare, heterogeneous tumors primarily affecting digestive organs.
• Current treatments for advanced NENs are limited, despite progress in initial therapies.
• Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are effective in some solid tumors but have limited application in most NENs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the clinical progress of immunotherapy in digestive system NENs.
• To emphasize the role of programmed cell death protein 1/programmed death receptor ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitors.
• To explore potential patient populations and the value of immunotherapy in NEN management.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of clinical trials and studies on immunotherapy in NENs.
• Focus on programmed cell death protein 1/programmed death receptor ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitors.
• Analysis of combination therapy efficacy versus monotherapy.

Main Results:

• Recent trials indicate combination immunotherapy is more effective than monotherapy for certain NENs.
• Ongoing clinical trials are evaluating the safety and efficacy of various ICI combination therapies.
• PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors represent a promising therapeutic avenue for NENs.

Conclusions:

• Immunotherapy, especially combination therapy with ICIs, holds significant potential for treating advanced digestive system NENs.
• Identifying the right patient populations for immunotherapy is crucial for maximizing treatment benefits.
• Further investigation into PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors is warranted for NEN management.