Purpose of this review: The present review focuses on key aspects of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) evasion of immune surveillance and how these can be leveraged to devise effective immunotherapy strategies.
Recent findings: In recent years, significant progress has been made in the field of cancer immunotherapy. In particular, the remarkable clinical results of anti-programmed death (PD)-1/PD-ligand (L)1 antibodies are revolutionizing the treatment approach to multiple solid and hematologic tumors. In patients with B or T cell NHL, immune checkpoint inhibition has produced mixed results, in part owing to the high complexity of the tumor immune microenvironment. Rationally designed combinations of PD-1/PD-L1 blockers with other antibody- or cell-based immunotherapies, or small molecules are being tested in clinical trials. A clearer understanding of the relationship between host immune dysfunction and cancer development and growth, often referred to as cancer "immuno-editing," has enabled the discovery and successful clinical application of several immunotherapeutic agents, such as the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI).
Keywords: Immune checkpoint inhibitors; Immune surveillance; Immunotherapy; Lymphoma; Nivolumab; PD-1; PD-L1; Pembrolizumab.