Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, often abbreviated as ICI therapy, is a cancer immunotherapy class that works by releasing inhibitory immune “checkpoints” to enhance antitumor responses. In advanced non-small cell lung cancer, a systematic review focused on the optimal treatment duration, highlighting that therapy length is an active clinical question rather than a fixed standard. The class is also used in recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer, metastatic renal cell carcinoma, and metastatic colorectal cancer, and it has been discussed in POLE/POLD1 proofreading-deficient colorectal cancer and Lynch syndrome-associated colon cancer. Recent literature also links ICIs to immune-related toxicities such as esophagitis, hyperthyroidism, and thyroiditis, underscoring the need to balance efficacy with adverse-event monitoring. In combination strategies, ICIs can synergize with nanoparticle-induced immunogenic cell death to amplify antitumor efficacy, including against triple-negative breast cancer. Overall, this therapy spans multiple solid tumors and is increasingly studied for both response optimization and resistance mechanisms.
Cancer treatment
- A systematic review in advanced non-small cell lung cancer examined the optimal duration of advanced non small cell lung cancer therapy, reflecting ongoing uncertainty about how long to continue ICIs. (PMID:41942994)
- In recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer, immune checkpoint inhibitors were used as treatment, with survival modeled using clinical and nutritional-inflammatory biomarkers. (PMID:41466422)
- First-line immune-combination regimens were evaluated in metastatic renal cell carcinoma, showing the role of ICI-based therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. (PMID:42012775)
- The class has reshaped the therapeutic paradigm for metastatic colorectal cancer and is discussed in mcrc and colon cancer contexts. (PMID:42017297; PMID:42026473)
Molecular subtypes and resistance
- A 2026 review in Immunotherapy discussed ICI activity in POLE/POLD1 proofreading-deficient colorectal cancer, linking response to pole and pold1 biology. (PMID:42017297)
- A case report described immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance in dMMR high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia with Lynch syndrome-associated colon cancer. (PMID:42026473)
- These findings suggest that mismatch repair status and proofreading-deficiency may influence sensitivity or resistance to ICI therapy. (PMID:42017297; PMID:42026473)
Immune-related adverse events
- Immune checkpoint inhibitor use was associated with hyperthyroidism in a real-world cohort study, indicating endocrine toxicity risk. (PMID:42012269)
- The same cohort also linked ICI exposure with thyroiditis within 12 months, reinforcing the need for thyroid monitoring. (PMID:42012269)
- A clinical and endoscopic study characterized immune checkpoint inhibitor esophagitis as an ICI-associated complication with treatment outcomes and complications. (PMID:41944490)
Combination immunotherapy and translational advances
- Copper peroxide nanoparticles designed for photochemodynamic immunotherapy were reported to synergize with ICIs to amplify antitumor efficacy. (PMID:41525757)
- This combination approach was described as effective against primary, distant, and metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. (PMID:41525757)
- The study highlights how ICI therapy is being integrated with nanomedicine to boost immunogenic cell death and systemic antitumor immunity. (PMID:41525757)