IMMUNOTHERAPY

Kaufman recently coined the term "precision immunology" to describe the use of host, immune system and tumor factors as biomarkers to select immunotherapy approaches. But, are we ready to integrate precision immunology into clinical practice?

The PD-L1 inhibitor atezolizumab has gained priority review status from the FDA as a treatment for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC).

Gangadhar says this preference toward single-agent immunotherapy is due to a lack of evidence supporting the use of a combination immunotherapy approach. The other reason a dual approach is less utilized in melanoma patients is due to the significant increase in toxicities.

The FDA has recieved a supplemental new drug application for a combination of ofatumumab (Arzerra), fludarabine, and cyclophosphamide, for patients with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

The PD-L1 inhibitor atezolizumab (MPDL3280A) showed promising antitumor activity in patients with inoperable locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma whose disease had progressed after previous platinum-based chemotherapy.

In this article, Priyanka Bhateja, MD, and Neelesh Sharma, MD, PhD review the completed trials and ongoing clinical development of pembrolizumab in NSCLC.

Seiwert says in general, immunotherapies produce a response rate of between 20- to 25%, 1 in 4 patients respond, and the treatment type is equally effective in both HPV-positive and HPV-negative disease.

Despite limited information on treatment options for mucosal melanoma, Richard Joseph, MD, says immunotherapies could be a rewarding challenge for oncologists to undertake in the field.

Emerging discoveries of MET chromosomal fusions provide additional promise as therapeutic genomic targets in MET cancer therapy and would need to be tested vigorously.

Tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) technology represents an intriguing way of overcoming the immunosuppressive power of cancer, according to Jeffrey S. Weber, MD, PhD.

Despite its initial running start, the continuing development of immunotherapies in the field of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) won't be slowing down anytime soon, according to Naiyer Rizvi, MD.

Dadu says immunotherapies could afford patients with thyroid cancer an elongated progression free survival, potentially less toxicities, and most importantly an extensive overall survival benefit.

With the field of immunotherapy growing at a rapid rate, and its increasing incorporation in the armamentarium of treatments in melanoma, Jeffrey S. Weber, MD, PhD, discusses where the field is going and how oncologists can be using the therapies.

Preclinical research conducted on tumor samples and mouse models showed that FGL2 is secreted by glioblastoma, which causes the upregulation of immune suppression mechanisms. Additionally, in these early studies, an anti

The FDA issued a complete response letter to Telesta Therapeutics informing the company that its biologics license application (BLA) for MCNA in bladder cancer would not be approved and that an additional phase III clinical trial was needed to adequately evaluate the immunotherapy.

Aaron Logan, MD, PhD, discusses the evolving definition of immunotherapy and its importance within the realm of oncology. Logan says immunotherapies were initially meant try to vaccinate patients against their own tumors, though the methodologies involved did not prove successful.

Researchers have identified a potential new biomarker for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which may help increase the efficacy of an emerging vaccine based on the MUC-1 antigen.

As new information regarding the efficacy of targeted and immunotherapeutic approaches emerge, the standard of care for patients with melanoma becomes slightly more altered.

Novel clinical trials are currently assessing the combination of VEGF-targeted agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors as frontline therapies for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Freeman says when a patient is given chemotherapy, oncologists can anticipate certain toxicities and treat accordingly. With immunotherapies, Freeman says the toxicities are associated with immune attacks where there shouldn't be any. These attacks can result in side effects such as skin rashes, colitis, and neumonitis.

This feature covers the "Treatment Strategies and Clinical Evidence for Checkpoint Inhibiton" section of the current Evolving Paradigms in Immuno-Oncology issue.

This feature covers the "Checkpoint Inhibitors Under Development For Other Cancers" and "Summary" section of the current Evolving Paradigms in Immuno-Oncology issue.

This feature covers the "Treatment Strategies and Clinical Evidence for Checkpoint Inhibiton" section of the current Evolving Paradigms in Immuno-Oncology issue.

This feature covers the "A New Paradigm for Evaluation of Tumor Response and Adverse Events" section of the current Evolving Paradigms in Immuno-Oncology issue.

This feature covers the "Introduction" and "Overview of Mechanisms" sections of the current Evolving Paradigms in Immuno-Oncology issue.