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PD1 and PD-L1 Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Gastrointestinal Cancer

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Immunotherapy for Gastrointestinal Cancer

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Abstract

Gastrointestinal cancers are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Cancers of the oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, gallbladder, liver, colon and rectum account for 29 % of new cancer cases and 37 % of cancer deaths [1]. The majority of these cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage and outcomes remain poor. Systemic therapy for gastrointestinal tumours primarily relies on cytotoxic chemotherapy, with very few molecularly targeted agents incorporated in the treatment of these diseases. Recent advances have included the addition of trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody against HER2, to cytotoxic chemotherapy in advanced HER2 amplified gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma, the addition of the monoclonal antibodies against EGFR, cetuximab or panitumumab, in advanced KRAS wild-type colorectal cancer, and the angiogenesis inhibitors bevacizumab, ramucirumab and sorafenib in advanced colorectal, gastric cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma, respectively [2–8]. Although these therapies have improved clinical outcomes, their benefit is modest due to the development of acquired resistance. Therefore, more effective therapies leading to durable responses are needed for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers.

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    Eirini Pectasides & David McDermott

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Pectasides, E., McDermott, D. (2017). PD1 and PD-L1 Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Gastrointestinal Cancer. In: Kerr, D., Johnson, R. (eds) Immunotherapy for Gastrointestinal Cancer. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-43063-8_6

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