Topic Highlight
Copyright ©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Oncol. May 10, 2014; 5(2): 39-47
Published online May 10, 2014. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i2.39
Targeted immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer
Monali Vasekar, Xin Liu, Hong Zheng, Chandra P Belani
Monali Vasekar, Xin Liu, Hong Zheng, Chandra P Belani, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, United States
Author contributions: Vasekar M, Liu X, Zheng H and Belani CP designed and wrote the introductory editorial for the paper.
Correspondence to: Chandra P Belani, MD, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State University College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, United States. cbelani@hmc.psu.edu
Telephone: +1-717-5311078 Fax: +1-717-5310002
Received: December 31, 2013
Revised: March 5, 2014
Accepted: April 17, 2014
Published online: May 10, 2014
Processing time: 132 Days and 7.7 Hours
Abstract

Targeted therapies that deliver the expected anti-tumor effects while mitigating the adverse effects are taking the cancer world by storm. The need for such therapies in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), where systemic cytotoxic chemotherapies still remain the backbone of management, is felt more than ever before. Runway success of immunotherapies such as Ipilimumab for melanoma has brought excitement among oncologists. Immune-based treatments are in various stages of evaluation for NSCLC as well. Immunotherapies using strategies of antigen based or cell based vaccines, and blocking immune checkpoints are of substantial interest. Meaningful clinical responses are yet to be reaped from these new treatment modalities.

Keywords: Immunotherapy; Non-small cell lung cancer; Programmed death-1; Programmed death ligands 1; Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen-4

Core tip: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-death worldwide. Majority of these patients have non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Traditional chemotherapy is limited by its high toxicity. Emerging data have demonstrated promising outcome of immunotherapy in NSCLC. This review delineated the rationale and potential targets of cancer immunotherapy, with a summary of immunotherapeutic agents for treatment of NSCLC. Protein/peptide-based and cell-based vaccines, as well as immune checkpoint targeted agents such as Ipilimumab and PD-1 pathway inhibitors were discussed. In addition, we reviewed ongoing immunotherapy-based studies including several major phase II/III clinical trials, results of which will be available soon for incorporation into clinical practice.