Pioneering work has unraveled the role of the immune system in the development and control of
cancer. This knowledge has set the basis for the successful implementation of
immunotherapy into the standard of care for a large number of
cancer types. Based on response rates and prolongation of overall survival, immunotherapeutic approaches have been approved in a growing number of
tumor diseases. Activation or therapeutic utilization of T cells represent the basis of these concepts. Checkpoint inhibitory
antibodies inhibiting CTLA-4, PD1 and PD-L1 receptors and
ligands induce long-term clinical
tumor control in a significant number of
cancer patients including metastatic
melanoma and
non-small cell lung cancer. As an alternative concept of T cell activation, the dual CD19 - CD3 targeting bispecific antibody
blinatumomab has been approved for refractory acute lymphatic
B-cell leukemia (ALL). Moreover, T cells genetically engineered with an anti-CD19-chimeric
antigen receptor have also been approved for ALL and malignant
B-cell lymphoma by the food and drug administration (FDA). In all of these
immunotherapies, severe side effects may occur and require a well-trained team of physicians. Moreover, the growing number of clinically investigated and validated novel compounds as well as cellular
therapeutics accentuate the complexity and challenge of this treatment modality. This review highlights the most prominent recent clinical developments in the field of immuno-oncology.