The role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in prostate cancer

Abstract

Introduction Prostate cancer (PC) is the most commonly diagnosed malignant tumour and the third cause of cancer deaths among men in Europe. The treatment of early-stage PC is very effective and in many cases allows achievement of a complete cure, whereas the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer (mPC) is still a huge challenge for clinicians. New therapeutic strategies for mPC are urgently needded. One of the most promising methods of treatment is anticancer immunotherapy including the monoclonal antibodies against immune checkpoint inhibitors. Objectives To present the potential possibilities of using checkpoint inhibitors blockage in the treatment of mPC, and to overview the results of recent research on immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with PC. State of knowledge Recent studies suggest that monoclonal antibodies directed against immune checkpoint inhibitors in combination with traditional therapy may become a breakthrough in the treatment of mPC in the near future. Conclusions The immunotherapy using monoclonal antibodies against immune checkpoint inhibitors seems to be a new opportunity for patients with advanced PC. The key to achieve the maximum anti-tumour response is to choose the best candidates for this therapy and determine the optimal sequence and combination of drugs. The introduction of immunotherapy as the standard treatment of patients with advanced PC requires further studies.

Keywords

• prostate cancer
• checkpoint inhibitor
• PD-1
• PD-L1
• CTLA-4