Immunotherapy in lung cancer: "b7-bombers" and other new developments

Abstract

Several recent immunotherapy agents have exhibited exceptional activity, and their eventual approval for use in lung cancer appears plausible. The immune checkpoint proteins, such as the B7 superfamily, are becoming increasingly relevant targets for therapeutic inhibition. Tumor vaccines hold the potential to deliver durable responses that are specific for tumor antigen, with favorable adverse effect profiles. Several vaccine trials are accruing more patients than any previous lung cancer trials and are designed to select a specific population based on a predefined, scientifically justified biomarker. These emerging immune treatments may hold great potential for the systemic treatment of lung cancers.