Emerging Therapeutic Strategies of Different Immunotherapy Approaches Combined with PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade in Cervical Cancer

Abstract

Currently, therapeutic methods for advanced and recurrent cervical cancer patients are limited and unsatisfactory. Immunotherapy is a promising approach for cancer treatment. However, its investigation and application in cervical cancer remain slow. Although pembrolizumab is a remarkable milestone as the first anti-PD-1 mAb approved by the FDA for treating cervical cancer, it shows relatively low response rate. It is noticed that multiple novel immune checkpoints have emerged in recent years, such as CTLA-4, TIGIT, LAG-3, TIM-3, and A2AR. Accumulated studies have suggested that strategies combining the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and different immunotherapies or biotherapies could enhance the antitumor efficacy in human cancers. In this review article, we provide an overview of anti-PD-1/PD-L1-based immunotherapy in cervical cancer treatment. We further summarize the developmental strategies of different immunotherapies or biotherapies combined with PD-1/PD-L1 blockade for treating cervical cancer. We also discuss how these new combined therapies increase the therapeutic benefit gained from experimental evidence in cervical cancer.