Combining angiogenesis- and checkpoint-inhibitors to potentiate each other’s effects

Both, the inhibition of angiogenesis and the influence of immune-mediated processes play significantly growing role in non-surgical treatment of tumors. Neoangiogenesis of neoplasmas adversely affects the function of the immune system, so its inhibition enhances the action of T-lymphocytes and other factors that support their function, favorably affects the microenvironment of the tumor, while treatment with immune signaling sites helps to normalize the vascular system. Influencing those two targeting points together may have a beneficial effect. Authors present that the combined use of agents having those two targets in renal cell carcinoma, melanoma malignum, non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, hepatocellular and breast cancer noting that successful phase III studies have been performed predominantly in clear cell (or tumor that also contains a clear cell component) carcinomas. The authors emphasize that immunotherapy usually requires the detection of susceptibility-predicting parameters (corresponding PD-L1, MSI-H, dMMR, TMB-H) and that registered indications should be considered in addition to the therapeutic philosophy of tumor agnostic treatment.