CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY

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DOI:  https://www.doi.org/10.31917/1901038

During past few years new developments in cancer immunotherapy are steadily regarded as major advances in oncology. In 2017 two paradigm changing immunotherapeutic approaches were approved. Adoptive therapies with CAR T-cells targeting CD19 were first approved for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Further for the first time ever tissue-agnostic treatment was approved for use on the basis of the genetic feature of a tumor, rather than the histologic type of cancer or its origin. Namely pembrolizumab therapy was approved for any tumor type harboring microsatellite instability. New options emerged in 2017 for the treatment of urothelial carcinoma, gastroesophageal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, liver cancer and Merkel cell carcinoma. Research is continued in other tumor types which is expected to broaden the potential of improving cancer treatment.