Ongoing clinical trials of PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors for lung cancer in China

Abstract

Compared to chemotherapy, promising results have been obtained by blocking the PD-1 pathway using antibodies that inhibit programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) or programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1). Furthermore, global researchers and doctors are exploring how to optimize this immunotherapy in 270 clinical studies. However, Chinese clinical trials of these agents remain in the early stages. We summarize the ongoing international and domestic clinical trials using PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors to treat lung cancer. This information can help researchers better understand the active and approved clinical trials in China, as well as the ongoing research regarding PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors.

PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade Therapy in Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Current Status and Future Directions

“…At present, several clinical trials of PD‐1/PD‐L1 inhibitors have been carried out to investigate the clinical efficacy in China . Based on the Chinese drug trial registration website (www://http://chinadrugtrials.org.cn), 14 clinical trials concerning four FDA‐approved drugs, nivolumab, pembrolizumab, durvalumab, and atezolizumab, are ongoing in China as of October 2017, particularly for patients with advanced NSCLC (Table ).…”

Retrospect and Prospect for Lung Cancer in China: Clinical Advances of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

“…In China, 28‐8, 22C3, SP142, SP263, E1L3N, and BP6001 are commonly used research‐oriented antibodies. At present, the expert opinion on PD‐L1 detection in China is being developed, which may provide authoritative guidance for the exploration of PD‐L1 biomarkers in the Chinese population .…”

“…Ongoing international clinical trials rarely target, or even consider, the characteristics of the Chinese population, and according to the Chinese drug introduction policy, drug‐related research and approval in China is always several years behind that in developed countries of the world. Thus, Chinese patients always have limited access to promising, novel drugs .…”

The function and regulation of PD-L1 in immunotherapy

“…Meanwhile, clinical activity of anti-PD-L1 antibodies has been observed in various malignancies, such as melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, squamous head and neck cancer, microsatellite-unstable colorectal cancer, and other types of cancers [55][56][57][58]. A predictive role of PD-L1 expression and TIL (tumor infiltrating lymphocytes) has been found in lung cancer patients receiving anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy and could be used to improve clinical interpretations [59].…”