PD-1 blockers build their case in resectable tumor indications at ASCO

One of the biggest messages emerging from ASCO this weekend was that when cancers can be treated with surgery, PD-1 blockers may help prevent them from coming back.

Three of the five plenary sessions at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago showcased PD-(L)1 inhibitors used in adjuvant, neoadjuvant and perioperative settings — before, after and both before and after surgery to prevent recurrence and improve long-term outcomes. All three cases represent new opportunities for the class, and none of the studies tested leading PD-1 inhibitor Keytruda pembrolizumab, suggesting that other players in the PD-1 field have found competitive opportunities in earlier stage treatment settings...