• Phase IA study (N = 52) in pretreated squamous and nonsquamous NSCLC
• MPDL3280A showed overall response rate of 22% in NSCLC
• Selection by PD-L1 expression may enhance response rate, but some activity was observed in PD-L1-negative tumors

Building on the explosion of new data on immune therapy first witnessed at ASCO 2012, this report — which stems from a larger multitumor Phase I/II effort — is the latest sign that a new age of cancer management may be upon us. Most notably, this monoclonal antibody, which targets the PD-L1 ligand, resulted in prolonged responses in some patients, including those with squamous cell lung cancer. This agent may also end up being less toxic than anti-PD-1 antibodies and ipilimumab, but indirect comparisons at this point are premature. Interestingly, expression of the PD-L1 ligand may provide a means to predict treatment benefit, although patients with PD-L1-negative tumors also benefited from this therapy. Currently a plethora of new trials are furiously being designed and implemented not only evaluating the activity of this and related immunotherapeutic agents alone or in combination with a variety of agents but also seeking to identify accurate predictors of response.