Combination cancer immunotherapy and new immunomodulatory targets
Abstract
Targeting immune checkpoints such as programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1), programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PDL1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) has achieved noteworthy benefit in multiple cancers by blocking immunoinhibitory signals and enabling patients to produce an effective antitumour response. Inhibitors of CTLA4, PD1 or PDL1 administered as single agents have resulted in durable tumour regression in some patients, and combinations of PD1 and CTLA4 inhibitors may enhance antitumour benefit. Numerous additional immunomodulatory pathways as well as inhibitory factors expressed or secreted by myeloid and stromal cells in the tumour microenvironment are potential targets for synergizing with immune checkpoint blockade. Given the breadth of potential targets in the immune system, critical questions to address include which combinations should move forward in development and which patients will benefit from these treatments. This Review discusses the leading drug targets that are expressed on tumour cells and in the tumour microenvironment that allow enhancement of the antitumour immune response.
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PD1 blockade in patients enhances tumour eradication by T cells and improves survival of these patients, especially in melanoma.
“PD1 blockade in patients enhances tumour eradication by T cells and improves the survival of these patients [78].”
From Senescence of T Lymphocytes: Implications for Enhancing Human Immunity (2016) · cites this paper as [78]
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- Authors
- Mahoney, K. M., Rennert, P. D., & Freeman, G. J.
- Affiliations
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Freeman, Gordon J.
- Venue
- Nature Reviews Drug Discovery
- Published
- 2015-07-31
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 561-584
- ISSN
- 1474-1776 (ISSN-L)
- 1474-1784
- OpenAlex
- W1942897646
- Cited by
- 1,294
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 25 · 2025: 74 · 2024: 111 · 2023: 113 · 2022: 110 · 2021: 147 · 2020: 135 · 2019: 135 · 2018: 166 · 2017: 132 · 2016: 133 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 15.88
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature Reviews Drug Discovery (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Cancer Institute (U54CA163125, P50CA101942)
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (P01AI054456, R01AI089955)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and B-cell Immunology
- Keywords
- cancer immunotherapy, immune checkpoint blockade, combination therapy, PD-1 inhibitors, PD-L1 inhibitors, CTLA-4 inhibitors, tumor microenvironment, myeloid cells, stromal cells, antitumor immunity
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Antineoplastic Agents, Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols, Humans, Immunotherapy, Neoplasms, Molecular Targeted Therapy, Tumor Microenvironment, B7-H1 Antigen, CTLA-4 Antigen, Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
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