Systemic immune checkpoint inhibition: A promising treatment for urological tumors?

Abstract

Improved understanding of the immunomodulatory interactions between tumor cells and immune cells has led to new and promising systemic therapeutic approaches in the first- and second-line therapy of urological tumors. Particularly in the case of urothelial carcinoma, for the first time in 20 years, checkpoint inhibitors (PD-1 and PDL-1 inhibitors) provide well-tolerated therapy that achieves response rates of >20% that can be sustained over the long term. This review explains the approach of immunotherapy and summarizes the current phase III clinical situation on urothelial carcinoma and renal cell carcinoma. The current immunomodulatory therapeutic approaches for prostate cancer are discussed. Finally, we highlight new immunomodulatory therapeutic approaches in basic research.