Durvalumab in non-small-cell lung cancer patients: Current developments

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a key component of treating advanced cancer patients, principally antibodies against CTLA-4 and PD-1 or PD-L1. Durvalumab (MEDI4736) is a selective, high-affinity, human IgG1 monoclonal antibody that blocks PD-L1, which binds to PD-1 and CD80, but not to PD-L2. Single-agent durvalumab showed clinical efficacy and a manageable safety profile in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer, particularly the ≥25% PD-L1+ population. Durvalumab is under evaluation in early, locally advanced and advanced disease as monotherapy and combined with ICIs, targeted therapies, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Impressive activity has been recently reported after chemoradiation in locally advanced patients; promising activity was observed with other ICI combinations, and potentially with other drugs including platinum-based chemotherapy. In contrast, early data reveal lower response rates in EGFR and ALK-positive patients.