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Pellegrino B, Tommasi C, Cursio OE, Musolino A, Migliori E, De Silva P, Senevirathne TH, Schena M, Scartozzi M, Farci D, Willard-Gallo K, Solinas C. A review of immune checkpoint blockade in breast cancer. Semin Oncol 2021; 48:208-225. [PMID: 34620502 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2021.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
In the recent years characterized by the cancer immunotherapy revolution, attention has turned to how to potentially boost and/or generate an efficient anti-tumor immune response in breast cancer (BC). Clinical activity of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) targeting PD-1 or PD-L1 in BC has been more evident in the triple negative subtype and in earlier lines of the treatment. Remarkably, some responders to single agent ICB have achieved durable responses with metastatic disease, possibly as a result of treatment-induced immunological memory. However, most BC are immunologically quiescent and current research efforts developing ICB combinations are attempting to convert "cold" into "hot" tumors by manipulating the tumor microenvironment, expanding anti-tumor T cells improving efficient antigen presentation, and suppressing pro-tumor inhibitory cells. The aim of this review is to summarize existing data on the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockers as single agents and combination strategies in all BC subtypes, highlighting the BC subgroups that benefit most from ICB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Pellegrino
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy; Medical Oncology and Breast Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Italy.
| | - Chiara Tommasi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy
| | | | - Antonino Musolino
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy; Medical Oncology and Breast Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Italy
| | - Edoardo Migliori
- Columbia University Medical Center, Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, New York, NY, United States
| | - Pushpamali De Silva
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Marina Schena
- Regional Hospital of Aosta, Azienda USL Valle d'Aosta, Aosta, Italy
| | | | - Daniele Farci
- Medical Oncology, Casa di Cura Decimomannu, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Cinzia Solinas
- Medical Oncology, S. Francesco Hospital, Nuoro, Azienda Tutela della Salute della Sardegna, Italy.
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