Progress of immune checkpoint inhibitors in gastric cancer

Ji-Yun Wan1,2, Duo Zhang1, Xiang-Hua Wu2

  • 1Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Affiliated Tai'an City Central Hospital of Qingdao University, Tai'an 271000, Shandong Province, China.

Insights

Gastric cancer (GC) treatment is advancing with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). These therapies show promise for advanced GC by reactivating immune cells, though challenges remain.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Gastric cancer (GC) is a leading global malignancy with low screening rates and poor prognosis.
  • Current GC treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.
  • Immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has emerged as a significant advancement for advanced GC.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the progress of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in gastric cancer (GC) treatment.
  • To discuss current individualized treatment strategies using ICIs for GC.
  • To explore future directions and challenges in GC immunotherapy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent advancements in GC immunotherapy.
  • Analysis of immune checkpoint pathways and their role in GC.
  • Discussion of clinical trial outcomes and therapeutic strategies involving ICIs.

Main Results:

  • ICIs demonstrate significant potential for unresectable and metastatic GC.
  • Tumors utilize immune checkpoints to evade immune surveillance, which ICIs can reverse.
  • Individualized treatment strategies are being developed to optimize ICI efficacy in GC.

Conclusions:

  • Immune checkpoint inhibitors offer promising therapeutic prospects for gastric cancer.
  • Overcoming challenges and refining individualized strategies are crucial for future GC immunotherapy.
  • Further research is needed to fully realize the potential of ICIs in managing GC.

Related Concept Videos

Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
660
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.8K
Tumor Progression02:07

Tumor Progression

Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
6.5K