Are radiologists ready to evaluate true response to immunotherapy?

Yirgin İ., Erturk Ş. M., Dogan I., Vatansever S.

INSIGHTS INTO IMAGING, vol.12, no.1, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Review
  • Volume: 12 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1186/s13244-021-00968-w
  • Journal Name: INSIGHTS INTO IMAGING
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, EMBASE, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Keywords: Immunotherapy, Tumor response, irRC, irRECIST, iRECIST, IMMUNE-RELATED RESPONSE, TUMOR-REGRESSION, THERAPY, CRITERIA, NIVOLUMAB, BLOCKADE, PEMBROLIZUMAB, AUTOIMMUNITY, IPILIMUMAB, GUIDELINES
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Background Standardized response criteria for evaluating patients radiological imaging have an essential role in oncological management. Immunotherapy, using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), including drugs targeting cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 and programmed cell death protein 1 or its ligand, promise a new role that has demonstrated improvement management in cancers resistant to chemotherapy. This article reviews the literature to understand the most useful response evaluation criteria for optimal patient management under immunotherapy treatment. Areas that warrant further research are described. Conclusion In conclusion, ICIs have become more widely accepted and used by medical oncologists. Radiologists face challenges in assessing tumor response and becoming more involved in the management of treatment. The latest published immune-RECIST criteria can be used in response assessment, but further prospective evaluation is needed with registration clinical trials to be definitively validated.