An update on the immune landscape in lung and head and neck cancers

Abstract

Immunotherapy has dramatically changed the treatment landscape for patients with cancer. Programmed death-ligand 1/programmed death-1 checkpoint inhibitors have been in the forefront of this clinical revolution. Currently, there are 6 US Food and Drug Administration-approved checkpoint inhibitors for approximately 18 different histologic types of cancer. Lung cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are 2 diseases that have led the way in the development of immunotherapy. Atezolizumab, durvalumab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab are all currently used as part of standard-of-care treatment for different stages of lung cancer. Similarly, nivolumab and pembrolizumab have US regulatory approval as treatment for advanced metastatic HNSCC. This is significant because lung cancer represents the most common and most fatal cancer globally, and HNSCC is the sixth most common. Currently, most of the approvals for the use of immunotherapy agents are for patients diagnosed in the metastatic setting. However, research is ongoing to evaluate these drugs in earlier stage disease. There is plausible biological rationale to expect that pharmacologic activation of the immune system will be effective for early-stage and smaller tumors. In addition, selecting patients who are more likely to respond to immunotherapy and understanding why resistance develops are crucial areas of ongoing research. The objective of this review was to provide an overview of the current immune landscape and future directions in lung cancer and HNSCC.

Molecular Characteristics, Prognostic Value, and Immune Characteristics of m6A Regulators Identified in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…HNSCC is a highly invasive malignant tumor that originates from the mucous membrane of the hypopharynx, larynx, oral cavity, and oropharynx, accounting for 90% of all head and neck cancers ( 24 ). HNSCC has more than 650000 confirmed cases worldwide, causing more than 300000 deaths every year ( 25 ) and ranking as the sixth most common and fatal cancer throughout the world ( 26 ). Although much progress has been made in the treatment methods (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy), the clinical prognosis of HNSCC patients is still poor.…”

Inhibition of LDH-A by Oxamate Enhances the Efficacy of Anti-PD-1 Treatment in an NSCLC Humanized Mouse Model

“…In recent years, immunotherapy has brought new hope to patients. Several immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as nivolumab, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, and durvalumab, have yielded excellent benefits in prolonging progression-free survival and overall survival for both second-line and first-line NSCLC patients, and have received US Food and Drug Administration approval ( 3 ). However, only a subgroup of patients benefits from such therapy.…”

The Prognostic Value of Circulating Soluble Programmed Death Ligand-1 in Cancers: A Meta-Analysis

“…Immune checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD-1/PD-L1 have remarkable clinical benefits in a variety of tumors ( 1 , 2 ). The expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is often observed in a variety of cancers.…”