It's been a big week for immunotherapy for lung cancer. Right on the heels of a press release that the PD-1 inhibitor Opdivo (nivolumab) significantly improved survival for patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC, my friend Dr. Garon from UCLA presented results at the American Association for Cancer Research conference with another PD-1 inhibitor, Keytruda (pembrolizumab).

Just last week, I ranked the development of immunotherapies as the leading development in lung cancer in 2013. I don't consider 2013 to be the clear turning point for immunotherapies in lung cancer: they have been the subject of interest and research for many years, and ASCO 2012 really marks their breakout from niche idea to more widespread credibility. But if 2012 was the real launchpad, 2013 saw the rocket really take off. The question is where is it really going?

Drs. Jack West, Mary Pinder, and Nate Pennell review various ways in which emerging immunotherapies could be effectively incorporated into our treatment strategies for lung cancer, potentially adding to or replacing current options.

[powerpress]

Drs. Mary Pinder, Nate Pennell, and Jack West discuss promising work on immune checkpoint inhibitors such as MPPL-3280A, an anti-PDL1 immune-based therapy, and anti-PD1 therapy nivolumab, in advanced NSCLC.

[powerpress]