PD-1 pathway–targeted agents in development

It should be noted that select responding patients who discontinued PD-1 antibody therapy subsequently demonstrated disease progression, suggesting that the optimal duration of anti–PD-1 agent dosing may vary from patient to patient. However, some patients who progressed after discontinuation of anti–PD-1 therapy have demonstrated durable responses after retreatment [47]. The optimal duration of PD-1-pathway–targeted agent treatment is still being determined; if shorter treatment durations are proven efficacious, this approach would be more cost-effective. The ultimate benefit of immunotherapeutics (e.g., IL-2, ipilimumab) is their ability to produce remissions that are durable when therapy is discontinued. Although this has been observed in select patients treated with anti–PD-1 agents, the percentage of patients who achieve durable remissions remains to be determined. Nonetheless, the potential benefits for patients who experience “treatment-free survival” include decreased treatment-associated toxicity, improved quality of life, and decreased cost to the healthcare system. While this endpoint is not currently standard for approving therapies, its value to the patient merits consideration in future studies.

It should be noted that select responding patients who discontinued PD-1 antibody therapy subsequently demonstrated disease progression, suggesting that the optimal duration of anti–PD-1 agent dosing may vary from patient to patient. However, some patients who progressed after discontinuation of anti–PD-1 therapy have demonstrated durable responses after retreatment [47]. The optimal duration of PD-1-pathway–targeted agent treatment is still being determined; if shorter treatment durations are proven efficacious, this approach would be more cost-effective. The ultimate benefit of immunotherapeutics (e.g., IL-2, ipilimumab) is their ability to produce remissions that are durable when therapy is discontinued. Although this has been observed in select patients treated with anti–PD-1 agents, the percentage of patients who achieve durable remissions remains to be determined. Nonetheless, the potential benefits for patients who experience “treatment-free survival” include decreased treatment-associated toxicity, improved quality of life, and decreased cost to the healthcare system. While this endpoint is not currently standard for approving therapies, its value to the patient merits consideration in future studies.

It should be noted that select responding patients who discontinued PD-1 antibody therapy subsequently demonstrated disease progression, suggesting that the optimal duration of anti–PD-1 agent dosing may vary from patient to patient. However, some patients who progressed after discontinuation of anti–PD-1 therapy have demonstrated durable responses after retreatment [47]. The optimal duration of PD-1-pathway–targeted agent treatment is still being determined; if shorter treatment durations are proven efficacious, this approach would be more cost-effective. The ultimate benefit of immunotherapeutics (e.g., IL-2, ipilimumab) is their ability to produce remissions that are durable when therapy is discontinued. Although this has been observed in select patients treated with anti–PD-1 agents, the percentage of patients who achieve durable remissions remains to be determined. Nonetheless, the potential benefits for patients who experience “treatment-free survival” include decreased treatment-associated toxicity, improved quality of life, and decreased cost to the healthcare system. While this endpoint is not currently standard for approving therapies, its value to the patient merits consideration in future studies.