Advances in immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for breast cancer:research progress and future directions
10.19401/j.cnki.1007-3639.2025.02.006
- VernacularTitle:乳腺癌免疫检查点抑制剂治疗的研究进展与探索方向
- Author:
Cheng ZENG
1
;
Yuanyi WANG
1
;
Jiani WANG
1
;
Fei MA
1
Author Information
1. 国家癌症中心/国家肿瘤临床医学研究中心/中国医学科学院北京协和医学院肿瘤医院肿瘤内科,北京 100021
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Breast cancer;
Immune checkpoint inhibitor;
PD-L1;
Precision therapy
- From:
China Oncology
2025;35(2):195-204
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among women worldwide.In recent years,immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy across different molecular subtypes of breast cancer,demonstrating significant clinical potential.This review systematically summarized the progress and clinical applications of ICIs in hormone receptor-positive(HR-positive),human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-overexpressing(HER2-positive),and triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC).In HR-positive breast cancer,the KEYNOTE-756 and CheckMate 7FL trials demonstrated that ICIs combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy significantly improved the pathological complete response(pCR)rate,with greater benefits observed in programmed cell death-ligand 1(PD-L1)-positive patients.Furthermore,the PROMENADE study indicated that estrogen receptor(ER)-low HER2-negative breast cancer patients achieved a pCR rate closer to that of TNBC rather than HR-positive breast cancer following ICIs treatment.In metastatic HR-positive breast cancer,the SACI-IO and DOLAF studies suggested that ICIs combined with antibody-drug conjugates(ADC)or poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase(PARP)inhibitors may provide clinical benefits for specific subgroups of patients.For HER2-positive breast cancer,the Keyriched-1 and Neo-PATH studies revealed that ICIs combined with anti-HER2 therapy might improve pCR rates in HR-negative/HER2-positive patients.However,the Impassion-050 and KATE2 trials failed to demonstrate widespread clinical benefits of ICIs in HER2-positive breast cancer.In TNBC,long-term follow-up data from the KEYNOTE-522 study showed that ICIs combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy not only improved pCR rates but also conferred long-term survival benefits.Additionally,the Impassion-130,KEYNOTE-355,and TORCHLIGHT studies confirmed that ICIs combined with chemotherapy prolonged both progression-free survival(PFS)and overall survival(OS)in PD-L1-positive advanced TNBC patients.Meanwhile,treatment strategies combining ICIs with anti-angiogenic therapy,PARP inhibitors and ADCs have demonstrated promising efficacy in TNBC(SPARK and BEGONIA trial).Currently,ICIs combined with chemotherapy remains the primary treatment approach,while combination strategies involving ICIs with anti-HER2 therapy,endocrine therapy,ADCs,and anti-angiogenic therapy are actively being explored.However,challenges remain,including complex resistance mechanisms,heterogeneous treatment responses,and the management of immune-related adverse events.Future research should focus on refining patient stratification strategies and developing more precise combination therapies to improve long-term survival outcomes for breast cancer patients.
