Releasing the Brake on the Immune System: The PD-1 Strategy for Hematologic Malignancies

• Published in: Oncology (Williston Park, N.Y.) Vol. 29; no. 6; p. 431
• Main Authors: Bryan, Locke J, Gordon, Leo I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-06-2015
• Subjects: Antibodies - therapeutic use; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Clinical Trials as Topic; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid - drug therapy; Leukemia, Myeloid - immunology; Lymphoproliferative Disorders - drug therapy; Lymphoproliferative Disorders - immunology; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor - antagonists & inhibitors; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor - immunology
• ISSN: 0890-9091

Manipulation of the immune system as a viable cancer treatment strategy has re-emerged. The programmed death 1 (PD-1) pathway is an important, physiologic immune checkpoint necessary to limit autoimmune processes but co-opted by tumors to suppress the antitumor response and allow tumor escape. Blockade of the PD-1 pathway through the use of PD-1 or PD ligand 1(PD-L1) antibodies releases this brake on the immune response. The anti-PD-1 antibodies have produced encouraging results across a broad range of malignancies. Many hematologic malignancies have usurped the PD-1 pathway. Recent investigations have explored the use of anti-PD-1 therapy in hematologic malignancies, with encouraging results. Incorporation of PD-1 blockade into the treatment algorithms for hematologic malignancies is currently being pursued in multiple active clinical trials. Here we review the data on anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies to date and discuss ongoing and future clinical trials.