Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a largely chemotherapy-resistant disease that is commonly treated with molecularly targeted therapies. Evidence suggests that RCC is also an immune-responsive disease, and checkpoint inhibitors are in active development as agents for the treatment of systemic disease. Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) is an inhibitory immune checkpoint, and blockade of the PD-1 cascade is an attractive target in RCC. Expression of the ligand for PD-1 in RCC has been shown to be a negative prognostic factor; however, response to PD-1 blockade is not restricted to tumors expressing the ligand for PD-1. Nivolumab is the most completely characterized anti-PD-1 agent in RCC and has been shown to be efficacious as monotherapy. Currently, there are multiple ongoing clinical trials exploring the use of combination therapy with PD-1 blockade.
MeSH terms
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology
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Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
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Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
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Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
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B7-H1 Antigen / antagonists & inhibitors
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B7-H1 Antigen / metabolism
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Carcinoma, Renal Cell / drug therapy*
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Carcinoma, Renal Cell / immunology*
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Carcinoma, Renal Cell / metabolism
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Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology
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Clinical Trials as Topic
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Humans
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Immunomodulation / drug effects*
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Kidney Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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Kidney Neoplasms / immunology*
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Kidney Neoplasms / metabolism
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Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
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Molecular Targeted Therapy*
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Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / antagonists & inhibitors
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Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / metabolism
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T-Lymphocyte Subsets / drug effects
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T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
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T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
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Treatment Outcome
Substances
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Antibodies, Monoclonal
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Antineoplastic Agents
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B7-H1 Antigen
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Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor