Featured Research: Immune checkpoint inhibitors for non-small cell lung cancer – review

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common lung cancer (85% of all lung cancers) and has a poor overall survival. Though chemotherapy is an effective treatment option, factors such as drug resistance, drug toxicity, and adverse side-effects cause poor response rate and ~10-20% survival within 2 years in advanced NSCLC patients. The efficacy of drugs known as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has been widely studied as an alternative treatment option in NSCLC.

Currently, ICIs such as Nivolumab and Pembrolizumab have been approved by the United States Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) as effective treatment options for NSCLC. Good response rate, improved overall survival, and tolerable safety profiles have been recorded in clinical trials for these ICIs. Combination treatments with ICIs such as Nivolumab + Ipilimumab and Durvalumab + Tremelimumab have been shown in clinical trials to provide better safety and efficacy profiles than single ICI agents.

Further research is required to study different ICI combination therapies in treating advanced NSCLC and variations in efficacy among smokers and non-smokers. It is recommended that future research should consider combination therapy with other conventional therapies including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and personalized targeted therapy; the efficacy of ICIs for early-stage cancer; and identification of predictive biomarkers… Read more.

Source: Scientect Journal of Life Sciences
Citation: Rajah Kumar, M., & Amankwaa, A. (2017). Immune checkpoint inhibitors for non-small cell lung cancer – review. Scientect Journal of Life Sciences, 1(1), 21-30. Retrieved from http://www.scientect.com/journals/index.php/SJLS/article/view/8

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