Biomarker development for PD-(L)1 axis inhibition: a consensus view from the SITC Biomarkers Committee

Therapies targeting the programmed cell death protein-1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) (abbreviated as PD-(L)1) axis are a significant advancement in the treatment of many tumor types. However, many patients receiving these agents fail to respond or have an initial response followed by cancer progression. For these patients, while subsequent immunotherapies that either target a different axis of immune biology or non-immune combination therapies are reasonable treatment options, the lack of predictive biomarkers to follow-on agents is impeding progress in the field. This review summarizes the current knowledge of mechanisms driving resistance to PD-(L)1 therapies, the state of biomarker development along this axis, and inherent challenges in future biomarker development for these immunotherapies. Innovation in the development and application of novel biomarkers and patient selection strategies for PD-(L)1 agents is required to accelerate the delivery of effective treatments to the patients most likely to respond.