Deciphering the Role of Immune-Checkpoint Inhibitors in Lung Cancer Treatment

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related fatalities worldwide in both men and women. Targeted therapy and chemotherapy have enhanced lung cancer progression, but despite this, patients inevitably suffer from relapse and drug resistance. Immunotherapy acts as a turnaround for cancer patients. In recent years, the development of immune-checkpoint inhibitors has emerged as an assuring therapeutic agent in lung cancer. To date, the most therapeutically significant immune checkpoints have been programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4). Inhibitors targeting these checkpoints have shown anti-tumour efficacy, prolonged survival and durable clinical responses in clinical trials. Based on encouraging outcomes, many different PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 inhibitors are part of clinical development. Presently, the most studied immune-checkpoint inhibitors are antibodies such as anti-PD-1 antibodies (pembrolizumab, nivolumab) and anti-CTLA-4 antibodies (ipilimumab, tremelimumab) which have marked accomplishment in areas of lung cancer. The relevant basic and clinical research is presently in full swing. The recent advances and hurdles of immune-checkpoint inhibitors in lung cancer immunotherapy have also been discussed.