Evolution of preclinical characterization and insights into clinical pharmacology of checkpoint inhibitors approved for cancer immunotherapy

Abstract

Cancer immunotherapy has significantly advanced the treatment paradigm in oncology, with approvals of immuno‐oncology agents for over 16 indications, many of them first line. Checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) are recognized as an essential backbone for a successful anticancer therapy regimen. This review focuses on the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory approvals of major CPIs and the evolution of translational advances since their first approval close to a decade ago. In addition, critical preclinical and clinical pharmacology considerations, an overview of the pharmacokinetic and dose/regimen aspects, and a discussion of the future of CPI translational and clinical pharmacology as combination therapy becomes a mainstay of industrial immunotherapy development and in clinical practice are also discussed.

Characterization of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells responses in the mixed lymphocyte reaction by flow cytometry and single cell RNA sequencing

“…However, the underlying mechanisms of action of ICPs have not been fully deciphered yet (5). Consequently, there is a need to deeply characterize the pre-clinical immune assays that allowed to evaluate them in order to better understand the functions of these ICPs (6).…”