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Beyond melanoma: inhibiting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in solid tumors

    Ryan Gentzler

    Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Authors contributed equally

    Search for more papers by this author

    ,
    Richard Hall

    Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Authors contributed equally

    Search for more papers by this author

    ,
    Paul R Kunk

    Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    ,
    Elizabeth Gaughan

    Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    ,
    Patrick Dillon

    Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    ,
    Craig L Slingluff

    Departement of Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    &
    Osama E Rahma

    *Author for correspondence:

    E-mail Address: Or3v@virginia.edu

    Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/imt-2015-0029

    Immune checkpoint inhibitors have been identified as breakthrough treatment in melanoma given its dramatic response to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. This is likely to extend to many other cancers as hundreds of clinical trials are being conducted or proposed using this exciting modality of therapy in a variety of malignancies. While immune checkpoint inhibitors have been extensively studied in melanoma and more recently in lung cancer, little is known regarding immune checkpoint blockade in other cancers. This review will focus on the tumor immune microenvironment, the expression of PD-1/PD-L1 and the effect of immune modulation using PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors in patients with head and neck, prostate, urothelial, renal, breast, gastrointestinal and lung cancers.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest; •• of considerable interest

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