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Checkpoint inhibitors in H odgkin's lymphoma
Author(s) -
Jezeršek Novaković Barbara
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1111/ejh.12697
Subject(s) - pembrolizumab , nivolumab , immune system , lymphoma , cancer research , blockade , antibody , immune checkpoint , population , priming (agriculture) , immunology , medicine , immunotherapy , biology , receptor , botany , environmental health , germination
Abstract H odgkin's lymphoma is unusual among cancers in that it consists of a small number of malignant H odgkin/ R eed– S ternberg cells in a sea of immune system cells, including T cells. Most of these T cells are reversibly inactivated in different ways and their reactivation may induce a very strong immune response to cancer cells. One way of reactivation of T cells is with antibodies blocking the CTLA ‐4 and especially with antibodies directed against PD ‐1 or the PD ‐ L 1 ligand thereby reversing the tumor‐induced downregulation of T ‐cell function and augmenting antitumor immune activity at the priming ( CTLA ‐4) or tissue effector ( PD ‐1) phase. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have been evidenced as an additional treatment option with substantial effectiveness and acceptable toxicity in heavily pretreated patients with H odgkin's lymphoma. Particularly, PD ‐1 blockade with nivolumab and pembrolizumab has demonstrated significant single‐agent activity in this select population.