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The Role of Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Agents in Melanoma: Progress to Date

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Abstract

The discovery of immune inhibitory checkpoints has revolutionized the approach to the systemic treatment of cancer. The programmed death 1 (PD-1) inhibitory checkpoint, in particular, has played a key role in understanding how certain cancers can evade immune surveillance. Blocking the interaction between the PD-1 receptor and its primary ligand (PD-L1) has demonstrated remarkable anti-cancer activity, and has led to the recent accelerated approval of two anti-PD-1 drugs for use in unresectable and metastatic melanoma in the USA. Results of these therapeutic advances have solidified the role of immunotherapy in the treatment of melanoma, results that may be applicable to the treatment of other cancers. In this review, we discuss the role of the PD-1 pathway in the immune system and the anti-cancer mechanism of action of inhibiting the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction. We also review the efficacy and safety data of currently approved and in-development anti-PD-1 agents, and explore the next steps to further improve patient outcomes.

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Acknowledgments

K.T. has no conflicts of interest to declare. A.D. is the recipient of grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Genentech, Merck, and Roche, as well as consulting fees/honoraria from Merck and Roche. No funding was used in the preparation of this manuscript.

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  1. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), Mount Zion A-743, 1600 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA

    Katy K. Tsai & Adil I. Daud

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Correspondence to Adil I. Daud.

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This article is part of the topical collection on Immuno-Oncology.

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Tsai, K.K., Daud, A.I. The Role of Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Agents in Melanoma: Progress to Date. Drugs 75, 563–575 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-015-0376-z

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