PD-1 inhibitors show promising early results

This article reviews recent news regarding two new lung cancer drugs: nivolumab and MK-3475.

Nivolumab and MK-3475 are new drugs that belong to a class referred to as PD-1 inhibitors. PD-1 inhibitors work by blocking a specific protein (PD-1 or programmed cell death protein 1) found on many cells of the immune system. Blocking PD-1 stimulates an increased immune response that may help destroy cancer cells. Some patients may respond better than others to treatment with PD-1 inhibitors. Notably, better treatment outcomes have been reported among patients expressing high levels of PD-L1 (a protein which binds and activates PD-1).

Nivolumab has shown positive results in early trials involving advanced patients with progressing lung cancer despite previous chemotherapy. In a small study from 2012, patients treated with nivolumab showed a 1 year survival rate of 42% with an average overall survival of 9.9 months. Larger studies investigating the benefits of nivolumab are ongoing.

MK-3475 was investigated in a small trial involving 38 advanced patients with progressing cancer despite other forms of therapy, showing an average overall survival of just under a year. The response was found to be better in patients expressing high levels of the PD-L1 protein. Further trials are underway investigating MK-3475 in comparison with the standard chemotherapy agent docetaxel.

Both drugs were found to be safe, with few serious side effects.

Nivolumab and MK-3475 have shown promising results in early trials involving patients who were unsuccessfully treated with other therapies.

This article only outlines current research results from early trials. Larger studies are needed to confirm results before these therapies enter common practice.