Cancer immunotherapy in patients with brain metastases

Research output: Contribution to journalReviewResearchpeer-review

The exclusion of “real-world” patients from registration clinical trials of cancer immunotherapy represents a significant emerging issue. For instance, a large fraction of cancer patients develops brain metastases during the course of the disease, but results from large prospective clinical trials investigating this considerable proportion of the cancer patient population are currently lacking. To provide a useful tool for the clinician in a “real-world” setting, we have reviewed the available literature regarding the safety and efficacy of immune check-point inhibitors in patients with cancer metastatic to the brain. Overall, these data provide encouraging evidence that these therapeutic agents can induce intracranial objective responses, particularly in patients with asymptomatic and previously untreated brain metastases. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these initial results.

Original languageEnglish
JournalCancer Immunology, Immunotherapy
Volume67
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)703-711
Number of pages9
ISSN0340-7004
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

    Research areas

  • Brain metastases, Cancer immunotherapy, Check-point inhibitors, Ipilimumab, Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab

ID: 215186255