Clinical pharmacology of monoclonal antibodies targeting PD-1 axis in urothelial cancers. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rofi, Eleonora; Del Re, Marzia; Arrigoni, Elena; Rizzo, Mimma; Fontanelli, Lorenzo; Crucitta, Stefania; Gianfilippo, Giulia; Restante, Giuliana; Fogli, Stefano; Porta, Camillo; Danesi, Romano; Schmidinger, Manuela
• Is Part Of: Critical reviews in oncology/hematology. Volume 154(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: PD-L1 inhibitors -- Urothelial cancer -- Pharmacokinetics -- Pharmacodynamics; Oncology -- Periodicals; Hematology -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2020.102891
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1040-8428

Abstract

Highlights: The use of immune-check point inhibitors in urothelial cancers is gaining momentum. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic may offer more answers for patients and drug selection. Anti-PD-1-PD-L1 have manageable toxicity profile. Chemotherapy plus pembrolizumab showed promising results in terms of ORR. Additional biomarkers need to be developed for patient selection for anti-PD-1/PD-L1. Abstract: Chemotherapy is the reference treatment for patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma, both in the neo-adjuvant and adjuvant settings; however, the overall outcome remains poor in this patient population. In the last few years, the addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors into the therapeutic armamentarium has changed the therapeutic landscape of several tumor types, including urothelial carcinoma. Many different molecules have been introduced in the clinical use and several questions about immunotherapies are currently open and deserve a critical analysis. The current review article is aimed at describing the clinical pharmacology of monoclonal antibodies targeting PD-1 axis in urothelial malignancies to underline pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic differences among them.