Dynamic human immune and tumour cells cross-talk in PDX-humanised mice warrants checkpoint inhibitor cancer immunotherapies assessment

The concept of exploiting the host's immune system to fight cancer relies on the concept of tumour immune surveillance, the insight that the immune system should eliminate malignant cells. Immunotherapy is a form of treatment aimed at manipulating the immune system to activate, break, regulate or reinforce immune functions. Cancer immunotherapy is revolutionising cancer treatment through the discovery and development of novel approaches that enhance the body's antitumour immune functions by 'releasing the brake' on the immune system: the so-called immune checkpoints (eg, cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), programmed death 1 (PD-1)) whose physiological functions are to limit autoimmune processes but are also co-opted by tumours allowing cancer immune escape mechanisms. In initial trials, checkpoint blockade showed success in promoting anti-tumour immunity and durable responses in patients with solid tumours. Several antibodies against the PD-1/PD-ligand-1 (PD-L1) checkpoint pathway have recently been approved in diverse indications (melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, head and neck...

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