From the Research
Role of PD-1 Targeted Therapy in Prostate Cancer
- PD-1 targeted therapy has shown promise in treating prostate cancer, with studies indicating that high PD-L1 expression is associated with poor clinical outcomes in prostate cancer patients 1.
- The PD-1/PD-L1 axis plays a crucial role in immune escape mechanisms of urological cancers, including prostate cancer, and its inhibition has shown significant efficacy in treating advanced urological cancers 2.
- Combination therapy of PD-1 inhibitors with other treatments, such as radiation, has shown potential in enhancing the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy in prostate cancer 3.
Mechanism of Action
- PD-1 inhibitors work by blocking the interaction between PD-1 and PD-L1, which can induce T-cell apoptosis or anergy, thereby facilitating the immune escape of tumors 2.
- The expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 in tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes/macrophages has been detected in a subset of prostate cancers, with PD-L1 expression being up-regulated in nonorgan-confined tumors 4.
Clinical Applications
- Clinical applications of PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors have shown promising efficacy in treating advanced urological cancers, including prostate cancer, with significant improvements in patient outcomes 2.
- Studies have reported unexpected antitumor activity in mCRPC patients treated with anti-PD-1 antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, with some patients experiencing rapid prostate-specific antigen reductions and partial responses 5.
- However, resistance to these therapies, either intrinsic or acquired, remains a significant challenge, and understanding the mechanisms underlying PD-1 and PD-L1 expression and activity is crucial for developing new strategies to overcome therapeutic limitations 2.