Immunotherapy
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This review describes trials evaluating the monoclonal antibody pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy that blocks the interaction between programmed death-1 and programmed death-ligand 1 and 2 [PD-L1/PD-L2]) as first-line therapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the Phase III KEYNOTE-024 study, pembrolizumab monotherapy significantly improved progression-free survival (primary end point) and overall survival, and was associated with fewer adverse events compared with platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with NSCLC with PD-L1 expression on ≥50% of tumor cells. In cohort G of the Phase I/II KEYNOTE-021 study, pembrolizumab plus pemetrexed and carboplatin significantly improved objective response rate (primary end point) and progression-free survival versus pemetrexed and carboplatin alone, and had manageable toxicity in patients with nonsquamous NSCLC. These results have changed first-line management of advanced NSCLC.
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Adoptive T-lymphocyte transfer-based immunotherapy for cancers has seen huge leaps with both CARs and engineered TCRs. Despite this, issues relating to safety and efficacy persist. ⋯ On the other hand, inhibitory switch receptors inhibit the effects of tumor-reactive T lymphocytes on unintended targets. This paper reviews the switch receptors reported thus far, and lists out potential improvements and future works.
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Although the development of anticancer drugs has improved the outcomes of bone and soft tissue sarcomas, the clinical outcome of patients with relapsed sarcomas remains unsatisfactory due to therapeutic toxicities and resistance to anticancer drugs. Therefore, novel therapeutic modalities are needed to improve the outcome of patients with bone and soft tissue sarcomas. ⋯ However, immune-suppressive conditions by immune regulator PD-1, CTLA-4 and regulatory T cells help tumor growth and progression. In this report, current immunotherapies including cellular immunotherapy and checkpoint inhibitors are introduced, and the advantages and disadvantages of the treatments are discussed.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Dose-finding study of carbamylated monomeric allergoid tablets in grass-allergic rhinoconjunctivitis patients.
To determine the optimal effective and safe dose of sublingual immunotherapy tablets containing carbamylated monomeric allergoids in patients with grass pollen-induced allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. ⋯ This study found 1000 UA/day to be the optimal effective and safe dose.