Immune Checkpoint Blockade for Advanced NSCLC: A New Landscape for Elderly Patients.

Authors :: Perrotta F
Rocco D
Vitiello F
De Palma R
Guerra G
De Luca A
Navani N
Bianco A
Source :: International journal of molecular sciences [Int J Mol Sci] 2019 May 07; Vol. 20 (9). Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 May 07.
Publication Year :: 2019
Abstract: The therapeutic scenario for elderly patients with advanced NSCLC has been limited to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Recently, a novel therapeutic approach based on targeting the immune-checkpoints has showed noteworthy results in advanced NSCLC. PD1/PD-L1 pathway is co-opted by tumor cells through the expression of PD-L1 on the tumor cell surface and on cells within the microenvironment, leading to suppression of anti-tumor cytolytic T-cell activity by the tumor. The success of immune-checkpoints inhibitors in clinical trials led to rapid approval by the FDA and EMA. Currently, data regarding efficacy and safety of ICIs in older subjects is limited by the poor number of elderly recruited in clinical trials. Careful assessment and management of comorbidities is essential to achieve better outcomes and limit the immune related adverse events in elderly NSCLC patients.

Subjects :: Age Factors
Aged
Antibodies, Monoclonal therapeutic use
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung epidemiology
Clinical Trials as Topic
Humans
Immunotherapy adverse effects
Lung Neoplasms epidemiology
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung therapy
Immunotherapy methods
Lung Neoplasms therapy
Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor immunology

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