How to differentiate pseudoprogression from true progression in cancer patients treated with immunotherapy.

Abstract

Immunotherapy has achieved unprecedented clinical efficacy in patients with various types of advanced tumors; however, some patients experience delayed tumor shrinkage following an increase in tumor burden after such a therapeutic method. This phenomenon is called pseudoprogression and can lead to premature cessation of efficacious immunotherapeutic agents. Consequently, we summarized the available data on methods to differentiate pseudoprogression from true progression in patients who have been treated with immunotherapy including biomarkers, medical imaging techniques and biopsy. We also introduce hyperprogression and special pseudoprogression for improved evaluation of immunotherapy.