The Role of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Brain Metastasis: a Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Brain metastasis (BM) is a common form of cancer that affects the central nervous system and has a significant impact on the life expectancy and quality of patients. Despite conventional treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, managing BM is challenging, and success rates are low. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as promising new therapies for advanced cancers and work by reversing the immune-evasive characteristics of tumor cells. ICIs have shown efficacy in various malignancies, prompting researchers to evaluate their efficacy in BM. Previously, the exclusion of BM patients from clinical trials was common due to the brain's immune-privileged nature. However, recent studies have demonstrated immune cell trafficking in and out of the brain, leading to several studies investigating the ICIs' application in BM patients. This study aimed to provide further evidence supporting the beneficial effects of ICIs in treating BM, as evidenced by improved response duration and survival time.

Brain Metastasis; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs); Anti-PD-1/Anti-PD-L1; Anti-CTLA-4; Anti-LAG-3