Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) offer significant advantages for the treatment of urologic tumors, enhancing the immune function of anti-tumor T cells by inhibiting PD-1 and PDL1 binding. They have been shown to be well tolerated and remarkably effective in clinical practice, offering hope to many patients who are not well treated with conventional drugs. Clinical trials in recent years have shown that anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 antibodies have good efficacy and safety in the treatment of urologic tumors. These antibodies can be applied to a variety of urologic tumors, such as bladder cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and prostate cancer. They have been approved for the first-line treatment or as an option for follow-up therapy. By blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway, ICIs can release immune functions that are suppressed by tumor cells and enhance T-cell killing, thereby inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis. This therapeutic approach has achieved encouraging efficacy and improved survival for many patients. Although ICIs have shown remarkable results in the treatment of urologic tumors, some problems remain, such as drug resistance and adverse effects in some patients. Therefore, further studies remain important to optimize treatment strategies and improve clinical response in patients. In conclusion, PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway blockers have important research advances for the treatment of urologic tumors. Their emergence brings new hope for patients who have poor outcomes with traditional drug therapy and provides new options for immunotherapy of urologic tumors. The purpose of this article is to review the research progress of PD-1 and PD-L1 signaling pathway blockers in urologic tumors in recent years.

Graphical Abstract