Recent developments in PD-1/PD-L1 blockade research for gastroesophageal malignancies

• Published in: Frontiers in immunology Vol. 13; p. 1043517
• Main Authors: Chen, Meng, Li, Chenyan, Sun, Mingjun, Li, Yiling, Sun, Xuren
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 24.11.2022
• Subjects: B7-H1 Antigen; biomarkers; esophageal cancer; Esophageal Neoplasms - drug therapy; Esophagogastric Junction; gastric cancer; Humans; immune checkpoint inhibitors; Immunology; PD-1; PD-L1; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; PD-L1; esophageal cancer; immune checkpoint inhibitors; gastric cancer; PD-1; biomarkers
• ISSN: 1664-3224; 1664-3224
• DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1043517

Gastroesophageal cancers (GECs) comprise malignancies in the stomach, esophagus, and gastroesophageal junction. Despite ongoing improvements in chemoradiotherapy, the clinical outcomes of GEC have not significantly improved over the years, and treatment remains challenging. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been the subject of clinical trials worldwide for several years. Encouraging results have been reported in different countries, but further research is required to apply ICIs in the clinical care of patients with GEC. This review summarizes completed and ongoing clinical trials with programmed death 1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway blockers in GEC and current biomarkers used for predicting PD-1/PD-L1 blockade efficacy. This review captures the main findings of PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies combined with chemotherapy as an effective first-line treatment and a monotherapy in second-line or more treatment and in maintenance therapy. This review aims to provide insight that will help guide future research and clinical trials, thereby improving the outcomes of patients with GEC.