Combination Strategies for PD-1-Based Immunotherapy in Breast Cancer

Abstract

Immunotherapy for breast cancer has shown some advantages in clinical practice. The PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint shows a notably high incidence of positive expression in triple-negative breast cancer cases. Interestingly, this expression doesn't seem to align with the clinical attributes of the disease. The presence of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the disease's environment can be a major breaker, even if PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have shown promising outcomes in the fight against breast cancer. It's like trying to win a game of chess with just one pawn when the rest of your opponent's army is intact. Simply relying on a single inhibitor to do the heavy lifting just doesn't cut it in this fight. Recent research on PD-1/PD-L1 expression and its connection to the development of breast cancer is combined in this paper. With an emphasis on developments in integrating immunotherapy approaches, it evaluates various PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy blends in conjunction with other breast cancer treatments. The piece delves into the intricacies of various integrated treatment modalities and their advancements in clinical trials, seeking to establish a solid theoretical foundation and practical insights for the impending era of combined immunotherapy in breast cancer treatment.